Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Hope That Never Disappoints A LETTER FROM FRANKLIN GRAHAM
December 27, 2010 - We appreciate the prayers of the saints and are grateful for those who share in the harvest of souls through their gifts and petitions.
I continue to feel an enormous sense of urgency for the souls of men and women as we enter the coming year.—Franklin Graham
As we come to the end of the year, I am reminded that we are simply that much closer to our Lord’s return, the “glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13, NKJV).
The Scriptures tell us the latter days will be marked by increasing conflicts, wars, and disasters (Matthew 24:4–8), and recent events remind us how fragile and perilous our world really is.
Just a few weeks ago, North Korea fired deadly artillery shells on a South Korean island, leading to the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier and joint military exercises with a nervous South Korea. Within days of that incident, hundreds of thousands of top-secret cables from U.S. diplomatic sources were published, revealing the backstage drama and tension of seeking to maintain peace and security in an increasingly unstable world. The cables highlighted the nuclear ambitions of Iran and its rapidly growing threat to world peace.
Meanwhile, the fight against terror shows no sign of abating, as Islamic extremists spread their hate around the world, indiscriminately killing thousands of victims. The war in Afghanistan enters its 10th year, and our troops in Iraq are still in harm’s way.
None of this should surprise anyone who follows Christ and has a biblical worldview informed by the Scriptures. The Bible says that the heart of man is “desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9), and from that depraved heart flows an unending desire for greed, power, and control. That’s why world peace will never happen. “Nation will rise against nation” (Matthew 24:7), not peacefully coexist.
While the world futilely pursues political and economic solutions to problems that stem from sinful hearts, believers in Jesus Christ are to be focused on proclaiming and sharing the hope we have in Him: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
I want to encourage you to be intentional about preparing for the Lord’s return by being faithful in studying His Word and in prayer, and by walking closely with Him. I also urge you to be intentional about sharing the love of Jesus Christ with people you know.
At the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, we will be busy proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom around the world in this new year, starting in Haiti in early January, India in February, and Liberia in March.
In Haiti we will proclaim the Good News at a stadium adjacent to the largest homeless camp in the country. I was in Haiti just a few weeks ago, and my heart was broken as I looked into the plaintive faces of so many suffering people. Hundreds of thousands of people are still homeless, there is filth and rubble everywhere, and the recent cholera outbreak has brought even more misery and death.
What the people of Haiti need more than anything is the sure and certain hope found only through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s a hope that never disappoints, even in the direst of circumstances. Pray for me as I proclaim Christ, for the safety for our teams, and for the local churches who are working together with us for the sake of the Gospel.
Haiti is not the only broken nation desperate for hope. Liberia, a West African country with historic ties to the United States, has emerged from a brutal civil war that lasted a decade and cost a quarter of a million lives. People across Liberia are open to the Gospel, and churches there have invited us to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ at a Crusade in March. Pray that many people will turn to “God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1).
I continue to feel an enormous sense of urgency for the souls of men and women as we enter the coming year. Though the cable leaks exposed the private thoughts of a few individuals for the whole world to see, the day of God’s judgment will be much worse when “God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ” (Romans 2:16).
The Bible says that a day is coming when the hearts of men and women will be laid bare before a holy God. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). For the believer whose sins have been washed by the blood of the Lamb, there is “no condemnation” (Romans 8:1), but for those who have not believed, there will be only a “fearful expectation of judgment” (Hebrews 10:27). What awaits is Hell, eternal punishment, and separation from God.
Pray for us, and as God leads you, we ask you to consider supporting us on a regular basis if you can. We appreciate the prayers of the saints and are grateful for those who share in the harvest of souls through their gifts and petitions.
In coming days, I want to encourage you to keep your trust in the Lord Jesus. Despite the trials and tribulations that mark this age, He says, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The Lord is always “our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
May our Sovereign God richly bless you in 2011.
Sincerely,
Franklin Graham
President
ARE YOU A GENEROUS GIVER?
We need people like you to ensure that the ministry of BGEA will continue for generations to come. Please donate online today and thank you for your support.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
God works through people like you to change the world by the power of the Gospel.
HAITI
The needs in Haiti are enormous, urgent, and ongoing. Your gift of $50, $90, $150, or any amount to the World Emergency Fund–Haiti can help keep Rapid Response Team chaplains in Haiti to share the love of Christ with suffering people, help in restoring ministries destroyed by the earthquake, or help with the Festival of Hope next month that will proclaim the love of Jesus amidst the chaos and hopelessness that characterize Haiti today.
CRUSADES
Across the country and around the world, people urgently need the Gospel. With your prayers and support, we are proclaiming Jesus Christ everywhere we can. Your gift of $40, $100, or any amount can help bring the Good News in upcoming months to spiritually hungry people in countries such as Haiti and Liberia or to North American cities such as Milwaukee, Denver, Winnipeg, and Los Angeles.
OUR GIFT TO YOU
Christians sometimes forget that the power of the Gospel is not just for salvation, but is meant for our entire lives. In his insightful book Living the Cross Centered Life, C.J. Mahaney unfolds the amazing potential available to those who keep the Gospel the main thing—every day. When you give a gift to BGEA at this time, we will send you a complimentary copy of the book as our thanks.
I continue to feel an enormous sense of urgency for the souls of men and women as we enter the coming year.—Franklin Graham
As we come to the end of the year, I am reminded that we are simply that much closer to our Lord’s return, the “glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13, NKJV).
The Scriptures tell us the latter days will be marked by increasing conflicts, wars, and disasters (Matthew 24:4–8), and recent events remind us how fragile and perilous our world really is.
Just a few weeks ago, North Korea fired deadly artillery shells on a South Korean island, leading to the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier and joint military exercises with a nervous South Korea. Within days of that incident, hundreds of thousands of top-secret cables from U.S. diplomatic sources were published, revealing the backstage drama and tension of seeking to maintain peace and security in an increasingly unstable world. The cables highlighted the nuclear ambitions of Iran and its rapidly growing threat to world peace.
Meanwhile, the fight against terror shows no sign of abating, as Islamic extremists spread their hate around the world, indiscriminately killing thousands of victims. The war in Afghanistan enters its 10th year, and our troops in Iraq are still in harm’s way.
None of this should surprise anyone who follows Christ and has a biblical worldview informed by the Scriptures. The Bible says that the heart of man is “desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9), and from that depraved heart flows an unending desire for greed, power, and control. That’s why world peace will never happen. “Nation will rise against nation” (Matthew 24:7), not peacefully coexist.
While the world futilely pursues political and economic solutions to problems that stem from sinful hearts, believers in Jesus Christ are to be focused on proclaiming and sharing the hope we have in Him: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
I want to encourage you to be intentional about preparing for the Lord’s return by being faithful in studying His Word and in prayer, and by walking closely with Him. I also urge you to be intentional about sharing the love of Jesus Christ with people you know.
At the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, we will be busy proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom around the world in this new year, starting in Haiti in early January, India in February, and Liberia in March.
In Haiti we will proclaim the Good News at a stadium adjacent to the largest homeless camp in the country. I was in Haiti just a few weeks ago, and my heart was broken as I looked into the plaintive faces of so many suffering people. Hundreds of thousands of people are still homeless, there is filth and rubble everywhere, and the recent cholera outbreak has brought even more misery and death.
What the people of Haiti need more than anything is the sure and certain hope found only through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s a hope that never disappoints, even in the direst of circumstances. Pray for me as I proclaim Christ, for the safety for our teams, and for the local churches who are working together with us for the sake of the Gospel.
Haiti is not the only broken nation desperate for hope. Liberia, a West African country with historic ties to the United States, has emerged from a brutal civil war that lasted a decade and cost a quarter of a million lives. People across Liberia are open to the Gospel, and churches there have invited us to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ at a Crusade in March. Pray that many people will turn to “God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1).
I continue to feel an enormous sense of urgency for the souls of men and women as we enter the coming year. Though the cable leaks exposed the private thoughts of a few individuals for the whole world to see, the day of God’s judgment will be much worse when “God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ” (Romans 2:16).
The Bible says that a day is coming when the hearts of men and women will be laid bare before a holy God. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). For the believer whose sins have been washed by the blood of the Lamb, there is “no condemnation” (Romans 8:1), but for those who have not believed, there will be only a “fearful expectation of judgment” (Hebrews 10:27). What awaits is Hell, eternal punishment, and separation from God.
Pray for us, and as God leads you, we ask you to consider supporting us on a regular basis if you can. We appreciate the prayers of the saints and are grateful for those who share in the harvest of souls through their gifts and petitions.
In coming days, I want to encourage you to keep your trust in the Lord Jesus. Despite the trials and tribulations that mark this age, He says, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The Lord is always “our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
May our Sovereign God richly bless you in 2011.
Sincerely,
Franklin Graham
President
ARE YOU A GENEROUS GIVER?
We need people like you to ensure that the ministry of BGEA will continue for generations to come. Please donate online today and thank you for your support.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
God works through people like you to change the world by the power of the Gospel.
HAITI
The needs in Haiti are enormous, urgent, and ongoing. Your gift of $50, $90, $150, or any amount to the World Emergency Fund–Haiti can help keep Rapid Response Team chaplains in Haiti to share the love of Christ with suffering people, help in restoring ministries destroyed by the earthquake, or help with the Festival of Hope next month that will proclaim the love of Jesus amidst the chaos and hopelessness that characterize Haiti today.
CRUSADES
Across the country and around the world, people urgently need the Gospel. With your prayers and support, we are proclaiming Jesus Christ everywhere we can. Your gift of $40, $100, or any amount can help bring the Good News in upcoming months to spiritually hungry people in countries such as Haiti and Liberia or to North American cities such as Milwaukee, Denver, Winnipeg, and Los Angeles.
OUR GIFT TO YOU
Christians sometimes forget that the power of the Gospel is not just for salvation, but is meant for our entire lives. In his insightful book Living the Cross Centered Life, C.J. Mahaney unfolds the amazing potential available to those who keep the Gospel the main thing—every day. When you give a gift to BGEA at this time, we will send you a complimentary copy of the book as our thanks.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Local Homeless go unoticed while Ted Williams is national media frenzy
Reply To This Post
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mariners need someone to replace the late Dave Niehaus as the voice of the Mariners right? How about giving him a shot.
==========================================================================================
re:Ted Williams-Homeless man with the golden voice (Poulsbo) (Bremerton)
Date: 2011-01-07, 7:47PM PST
Reply To This Post
I find it amazing that this one guy gets so much attention, although its those in the "Business" who decided that this is what we should be focused on.
In East Bremerton in front of Walmart stands a guy name Jock Towns, he begs for change and sleeps in the woods behind Walmart, Jock is a journeyman painter with Union credentials few have obtained, He worked for me until 3 years ago, when my business closed as a result of the recession. He lost his house, and EVEDRTHING of value and turned to drinking as he became homeless. He now says people spit on him and call him names.
His face is bloated as a result of the alcohol, he weighs under 100 lbs and looks close to death. When the day comes he dies in the woods from exposure no one will care. He is a good person with a good heart, but he is already dead.
Mr "golden voice" Is VERY fortunate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mariners need someone to replace the late Dave Niehaus as the voice of the Mariners right? How about giving him a shot.
==========================================================================================
re:Ted Williams-Homeless man with the golden voice (Poulsbo) (Bremerton)
Date: 2011-01-07, 7:47PM PST
Reply To This Post
I find it amazing that this one guy gets so much attention, although its those in the "Business" who decided that this is what we should be focused on.
In East Bremerton in front of Walmart stands a guy name Jock Towns, he begs for change and sleeps in the woods behind Walmart, Jock is a journeyman painter with Union credentials few have obtained, He worked for me until 3 years ago, when my business closed as a result of the recession. He lost his house, and EVEDRTHING of value and turned to drinking as he became homeless. He now says people spit on him and call him names.
His face is bloated as a result of the alcohol, he weighs under 100 lbs and looks close to death. When the day comes he dies in the woods from exposure no one will care. He is a good person with a good heart, but he is already dead.
Mr "golden voice" Is VERY fortunate.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Ted Williams was homeless and lost now he is found
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
What God Has to Say About the Issue of Homelessness
Homelessness is a problem. It is conceivable that every city in the United States has an issue with people living
on the street. The debate of how much responsibility the government should take for helping the homelessheated. One side of the isle will claim that these people, who are mostly drug addicts and alcoholics, are responsible for themselves. The other side will argue that as a society it is the duty of the people to help others in need. What does the Bible say about the homeless and the poor? Does God have an opinion on whether or not the impoverished are society’s responsibility?
The word “poor” occurs 205 times in 197 verses in the KJV Bible. God’s view on the poor is very clear. Before we discuss God’s commandments on how we should treat the poor, let us first look at what God’s opinion of the poor is. Jesus is an excellent example of what a poor person was in his day. In fact, it is safe to say that Jesus was a homeless person at least some of the time ( Luke 9:58). The people that Jesus associated with were homeless and poor as well. Paul, who was a close follower of Jesus wrote “even until now we…have no certain dwellingplace” ( 1 Corinthians 4:11). And finally, Paul writes that God’s only begotten Son became poor although he was rich for our sakes ( 2 Corinthians 8:9). It is very evident in just these three verses, that God loves poor people very much. If God made Jesus, his one and only Son, a poor and homeless person, then it is safe to say that God actually esteems the poor and glorifies them. ow does God want other people to view the poor and the homeless? The Bible states that God will deliver the poor from their affliction (see Psalms 107:41). Since Christians should look toward God as an example of how to live, the poor are the responsibility of the people. Most people see the poor and homeless as a burden and an eyesore. There are calls from the “nice” neighborhoods to “clean up the streets” by having the police “sweep” the street people away. When a homeless person asks a pedestrian for some spare change, a common response might be “get a job”. This is definitely not the attitude that God wants us to have toward the poor. In fact, as we will see a little later, these attitudes shall be punished. In Matthew 25 starting at verse 34, Jesus makes a very powerful statement. On judgment day in heaven, the goats shall be separated from the lambs. The goats are symbolic of the wicked and the lambs symbolize the righteous. The righteous shall reside with Jesus in heaven eternally and the wicked shall be condemned to everlasting punishment. Jesus explains that the reasoning for this is that whenever someone feeds someone who is hungry or gives drink to the thirsty, he is actually doing so unto Jesus himself (see Matthew 25:45). This verse alone makes a powerful statement of how people should treat those that are in need.When a person gives unto the poor he is actually giving unto God. God is a great rewarder of those that help the poor. In the Old Testament God actually commanded his people to help if a brother was poor and had no place to live (see Deuteronomy 15:7). Solomon wrote that if we have mercy on the poor we honor God (see Proverbs 14:31). It pleases God when we give to the poor. If more people knew that every time we gave spare change to a homeless person on the street that we are actually lending money to God himself, I think it would happen more often (see Proverbs 19:17). God actually promises that all the money that a person gives to the poor will be given back to him. In this materialistic world, most people would do anything to be rich. It is very common to sacrifice morals for monetary gain. God’s view on this is plain. It is better to be poor and wise in the Lord, than rich and unrighteous (see Proverbs 28:6).
Not only will God reward those that help the poor and homeless, but he will punish those that oppress them. Many people have been taught that it’s okay to step on people in order to move up in the
Take advantage of the poor is an attitude that God will judge. Not surprisingly, God’s very first commandment regarding treatment of the poor deals with lending money. Poor people usually are the first to ask for a loan. Because they need the money so badly, they are willing to pay a higher interest rate on the money. Interest is also known as usury. God forbids the rich to charge any interest at all to his people if they be poor (see Exodus 22:25). It is also common to pay low wages to the poor because they are so desperate for money. The Bible calls this oppression and it is also forbidden by God as we read his commandments and laws (see Deuteronomy 24:14). It is frightful what God says would happen to the man that persecutes the poor. If a person knew that oil would come into his bones because he persecuted the poor, isn’t it possible that he might refrain from doing it (see Psalms 109:16)? Ignoring the “street people” when they ask for change is also a very common response. People sometimes do not even acknowledge that they are there. God is not fond of that attitude and says that when a person ignores the cries of the poor, he will cry also and not be heard (see Proverbs 21:13).
So as we can see, God’s attitude toward the homeless is one of mercy and love. It almost seems as if we should treat these people as we are one of them. This is not so far from the truth. Paul writes that the chosen people of God are the base of the world. It is the people that are despised of the world that are called to give glory to God and do his work (see 1 Corinthians 1:28). My prayer is that governmental leaders and all people view the homeless as precious souls that can improve our character and our relationship with God. The homeless are not people to be avoided; they are there to be loved. Let’s try to treat other people the way we would like to be treated by showing mercy in their time of need.
on the street. The debate of how much responsibility the government should take for helping the homelessheated. One side of the isle will claim that these people, who are mostly drug addicts and alcoholics, are responsible for themselves. The other side will argue that as a society it is the duty of the people to help others in need. What does the Bible say about the homeless and the poor? Does God have an opinion on whether or not the impoverished are society’s responsibility?
The word “poor” occurs 205 times in 197 verses in the KJV Bible. God’s view on the poor is very clear. Before we discuss God’s commandments on how we should treat the poor, let us first look at what God’s opinion of the poor is. Jesus is an excellent example of what a poor person was in his day. In fact, it is safe to say that Jesus was a homeless person at least some of the time ( Luke 9:58). The people that Jesus associated with were homeless and poor as well. Paul, who was a close follower of Jesus wrote “even until now we…have no certain dwellingplace” ( 1 Corinthians 4:11). And finally, Paul writes that God’s only begotten Son became poor although he was rich for our sakes ( 2 Corinthians 8:9). It is very evident in just these three verses, that God loves poor people very much. If God made Jesus, his one and only Son, a poor and homeless person, then it is safe to say that God actually esteems the poor and glorifies them. ow does God want other people to view the poor and the homeless? The Bible states that God will deliver the poor from their affliction (see Psalms 107:41). Since Christians should look toward God as an example of how to live, the poor are the responsibility of the people. Most people see the poor and homeless as a burden and an eyesore. There are calls from the “nice” neighborhoods to “clean up the streets” by having the police “sweep” the street people away. When a homeless person asks a pedestrian for some spare change, a common response might be “get a job”. This is definitely not the attitude that God wants us to have toward the poor. In fact, as we will see a little later, these attitudes shall be punished. In Matthew 25 starting at verse 34, Jesus makes a very powerful statement. On judgment day in heaven, the goats shall be separated from the lambs. The goats are symbolic of the wicked and the lambs symbolize the righteous. The righteous shall reside with Jesus in heaven eternally and the wicked shall be condemned to everlasting punishment. Jesus explains that the reasoning for this is that whenever someone feeds someone who is hungry or gives drink to the thirsty, he is actually doing so unto Jesus himself (see Matthew 25:45). This verse alone makes a powerful statement of how people should treat those that are in need.When a person gives unto the poor he is actually giving unto God. God is a great rewarder of those that help the poor. In the Old Testament God actually commanded his people to help if a brother was poor and had no place to live (see Deuteronomy 15:7). Solomon wrote that if we have mercy on the poor we honor God (see Proverbs 14:31). It pleases God when we give to the poor. If more people knew that every time we gave spare change to a homeless person on the street that we are actually lending money to God himself, I think it would happen more often (see Proverbs 19:17). God actually promises that all the money that a person gives to the poor will be given back to him. In this materialistic world, most people would do anything to be rich. It is very common to sacrifice morals for monetary gain. God’s view on this is plain. It is better to be poor and wise in the Lord, than rich and unrighteous (see Proverbs 28:6).
Not only will God reward those that help the poor and homeless, but he will punish those that oppress them. Many people have been taught that it’s okay to step on people in order to move up in the
Take advantage of the poor is an attitude that God will judge. Not surprisingly, God’s very first commandment regarding treatment of the poor deals with lending money. Poor people usually are the first to ask for a loan. Because they need the money so badly, they are willing to pay a higher interest rate on the money. Interest is also known as usury. God forbids the rich to charge any interest at all to his people if they be poor (see Exodus 22:25). It is also common to pay low wages to the poor because they are so desperate for money. The Bible calls this oppression and it is also forbidden by God as we read his commandments and laws (see Deuteronomy 24:14). It is frightful what God says would happen to the man that persecutes the poor. If a person knew that oil would come into his bones because he persecuted the poor, isn’t it possible that he might refrain from doing it (see Psalms 109:16)? Ignoring the “street people” when they ask for change is also a very common response. People sometimes do not even acknowledge that they are there. God is not fond of that attitude and says that when a person ignores the cries of the poor, he will cry also and not be heard (see Proverbs 21:13).
So as we can see, God’s attitude toward the homeless is one of mercy and love. It almost seems as if we should treat these people as we are one of them. This is not so far from the truth. Paul writes that the chosen people of God are the base of the world. It is the people that are despised of the world that are called to give glory to God and do his work (see 1 Corinthians 1:28). My prayer is that governmental leaders and all people view the homeless as precious souls that can improve our character and our relationship with God. The homeless are not people to be avoided; they are there to be loved. Let’s try to treat other people the way we would like to be treated by showing mercy in their time of need.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Zacch...saved by grace or works??
In the bible, Chapter 19 in the book of Luke, is the story of Zacchaeus. He was a very rich man. A Chief tax collector. A sinner. He was drawn to Jesus. So much so, that he climbed up a tree to see Jesus. When Jesus saw Zacchaeus (Zacch), He told him that He (Jesus) wanted to go to Zacch's home to fellowship with him. Zacch was overjoyed at this and gladly had Jesus come to his home. When at his home, Zacch vowed to give half of his possessions to the poor and pay back 4 times the amount of money to anyone that he had cheated.
Then Jesus declared that salvation had come to the home of Zacchaeus.
Was Zacchaeus saved by his works? Or were his acts of charity (giving to the poor, etc.), a result of his salvation? Was he responding in love and grace to the saving grace of Jesus?
Friday, January 7, 2011
If we are the body
"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.(Matthew 22:39)
So many people ignore the homeless, partly because they believe there is little they can do to “fix” them. And they are absolutely right. In fact, it is not God’s intention that we “fix” them any more than it is His intention that they “fix” us.
Jesus tells us that we are one body in Christ. Everyone -- rich, poor, every race, every age -- has a legitimate role to play in that body. We may go to a homeless camp or an orphanage or a rest home with the intention of helping someone else, but ultimately, we will be helping each other grow together into the body Christ envisioned from the beginning of time.
Our commonalities become striking when we knock down the false boundaries we have thrown up around our love. Think about it: every Christian is spiritually homeless. We live in temporary shelters, however modest or grandiose, waiting to take our places in the Lord’s mansion.
So many people ignore the homeless, partly because they believe there is little they can do to “fix” them. And they are absolutely right. In fact, it is not God’s intention that we “fix” them any more than it is His intention that they “fix” us.
Jesus tells us that we are one body in Christ. Everyone -- rich, poor, every race, every age -- has a legitimate role to play in that body. We may go to a homeless camp or an orphanage or a rest home with the intention of helping someone else, but ultimately, we will be helping each other grow together into the body Christ envisioned from the beginning of time.
Our commonalities become striking when we knock down the false boundaries we have thrown up around our love. Think about it: every Christian is spiritually homeless. We live in temporary shelters, however modest or grandiose, waiting to take our places in the Lord’s mansion.
How would Jesus react to the homeless???
In Leviticus 25:8-43, we see that God institutes the practice of the “Year of Jubilee” to be practiced every fifty years. God says to the nation of Israel:
“…do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God.”
(Leviticus 25:17 )“If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alienor a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countrymen may continue to live among you…”
(Leviticus 25:35-36)“If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave. He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee”.
(Leviticus 25:39-40)
In Deuteronomy 15, we see that God’s intention will be that His people will have all debts canceled every seven years. This was appropriately called “The Year for Canceling Debts”.
Lets be honest have you ever found yourself avoiding the homeless altogether. Certainly that is the easiest thing to do, and easy to justify if you have a schedule that simply must be kept. WWJD—what would Jesus do? Would he prefer the Western way of time schedules and daily planning, or would he throw away that schedule book and take the time to listen to the hurts of the poor, to pray with them, to show them love and concern no matter how late he was to his ever-important meetings.
Lets be honest have you ever found yourself avoiding the homeless altogether. Certainly that is the easiest thing to do, and easy to justify if you have a schedule that simply must be kept. WWJD—what would Jesus do? Would he prefer the Western way of time schedules and daily planning, or would he throw away that schedule book and take the time to listen to the hurts of the poor, to pray with them, to show them love and concern no matter how late he was to his ever-important meetings.
- The poor know they are in urgent need of redemption.
- The poor know not only their dependence on God and on powerful people, but also their interdependence with one another.
- The poor rest their security not on things but on people.
- The poor have no exaggerated sense of their own importance, and no exaggerated need of privacy.
- The poor expect little from competition and much from cooperation.
- The poor can distinguish between necessities and luxuries.
- The poor can wait, because they have acquired a kind of dogged patience born of acknowledged dependence.
- The fears of the poor are more realistic and less exaggerated, because they already know that one can survive great suffering and want.
- When the poor have the Gospel preached to them, it sounds like good news and not like a threat or a scolding.
- The poor can respond to the call of the Gospel with a certain abandonment and uncomplicated totality because they have so little to lose and are ready for anything.as quoted in "The Jesus I Never Knew "by Philip Yancey, p. 115
James 2:1-9
You are sitting in church one warm Sunday morning. You got there a little early, amazingly, and actually are there early enough to watch others come through the back door to find their seats. There is Brother Jim Johnson. He’s one of the elders. Behind him comes a person you haven’t seen before. He’s dressed smartly and you are sure he must be a prominent businessman or doctor. Maybe he’s new in town. You make a mental note to meet him after the service. As you are planning what you’ll say, slowly a haggard old man shuffles through the church doors. He looks like he’s living on the streets, and an unpleasant little odor starts to find your nose. Ugh. You wonder who this forgotten fellow is, but your thoughts quickly return to the important man you will meet in another hour or so after the service.
I know this is not a common occurrence for most of us, but it makes us consider how our reaction might be if faced with an obvious choice in how we plan to treat a rich man vs. a poor one. The New Testament writer James provides ample warning for Christians in such situations…
“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here’s a good seat for you,' but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”
(James 2:1-9)
Why is it the natural thing for us humans to notice those with wealth and popularity, but almost ignore those who are poor? This should not be… James tells us so; Jesus tells us so throughout the New Testament; and looking back through history we can see that God’s heart is overwhelmingly for the poor. If the Lord who we serve and try to model our lives after cares so much for the poor, then so should we.
I know this is not a common occurrence for most of us, but it makes us consider how our reaction might be if faced with an obvious choice in how we plan to treat a rich man vs. a poor one. The New Testament writer James provides ample warning for Christians in such situations…
“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here’s a good seat for you,' but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”
(James 2:1-9)
Why is it the natural thing for us humans to notice those with wealth and popularity, but almost ignore those who are poor? This should not be… James tells us so; Jesus tells us so throughout the New Testament; and looking back through history we can see that God’s heart is overwhelmingly for the poor. If the Lord who we serve and try to model our lives after cares so much for the poor, then so should we.
A collection of services help local homeless population
In Kitsap County. The names of North Kitsap School District students in this article have been changed to protect their identities.
Families in Kitsap County struggling with the loss of a job or stable housing have several resources to help them through difficult times.
Acknowledging the need for help can be tough, but those who seek assistance often find an outpouring of kindness.
“There’s a lot of community awarenes and it’s a caring community,” Jim Stowers of Kitsap Community Resources said.
Kitsap Community Resources opened a new transitional housing facility in Central Kitsap on Jan. 21. Prior to the home’s opening, Stowers sent out a list of supplies he needed. The response was so overwhelming that Stowers now jokes he is afraid of being inundated with a surplus of supplies if he ever asks for more help.
“The response was absolutely amazing,” he said. “It’s really something to be thankful for.”
Kitsap Community Resources has a total of 12 transitional houses spread throughout the county, including one in North Kitsap. The facilities are meant to house families with children for up to 90 days while children for up to 90 days while they secure a more stable living situation.
“We try to take an assessment of where they stand, and try to establish goals, and in that 90 days try to bring them to a place where they’re self-sufficient,” Stowers said. “It’s not just a place to stay, it’s a place to grow.”
Much of the need for homeless assistance is also met by nonprofit groups. Catholic Community Services runs the Benedict House in Bremerton, the only emergency and transitional housing facility in the county for homeless single men and men with children. Saint Vincent de Paul focuses its housing efforts on women in need. Several other organizations offer showers, warm clothing and help with things like utility payments.
The North Kitsap Fishline food bank in Poulsbo, and ShareNet in Kingston provide meal packages for individuals and families. Many food banks have seen an increase in demand in recent years, but not everyone who needs help is willing to ask for it.
“We used to donate for the food bank, now we need to use the food bank,” said Kaley Burns, a student at Spectrum Community School in Kingston whose parents have struggled with unemployment. “But my mom won’t use it. She thinks there’s more people that need to use it than us.”
Asking for help can be humbling, but it can also relieve pressure caused by strained budgets, a concern that’s becoming more commonplace.
“When my mom first used (the food bank), she felt really bad, but then she realized how poor we were, because we barely had 20 bucks to last us the week,” said Ricky O’Brien, a Spectrum student who has experienced homelessness in the past. “I’ve pretty much lived off of food banks and everything else for all my life, even now. It’s just not as much now.”
In addition to food banks, Kitsap County has several feeding programs for people who would otherwise be forced to skip meals. In North Kitsap, First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo hosts a free dinner at 5 p.m. every Thursday. North Kitsap Baptist Church has a free meal from 5-7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. And the Suquamish Community Kitchen also offers free food from 5-7 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month.
The Kitsap Continuum of Care Coalition also connects people with homeless and low-income services. On Jan. 28-29, the group teamed up with Americorps and other local organizations to perform an annual “point-in-time” count of homeless people in Kitsap County. The count helps local advocacy groups determine what the community’s needs are and where those needs are greatest. The coalition is still tabulating the final numbers in this year’s count. Last year, they identified 937 homeless people in the county, and they expect a similar amount this year. Those numbers fluctuate often, as people’s situations change.
“Everybody realizes it’s a point in time count, so it’s not a definitive number, even when we get the final numbers,” Coalition Coordinator Terry Schroeder said.
The centerpiece of the count was an event called Project Connect, held at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. Homeless people and anyone in need of transitional housing were invited to the Kitsap Pavilion to spend the night, receive clothing, blankets and services, and get connected to shelters. Nearly 200 people came to the event this year.
“To me,” Schroeder said, “just having one person say they got the help they needed at that event makes it worth it in my mind.”
Where to find resources
To get connected with a shelter or other services, call Kitsap Community Resources at (360) 478-2301, visit the office at 845 8th St., Bremerton, or contact Kitsap’s Continuum of Care Coalition at (360) 473-2028 or at 1201 Park Ave., Bremerton.
Families in Kitsap County struggling with the loss of a job or stable housing have several resources to help them through difficult times.
Acknowledging the need for help can be tough, but those who seek assistance often find an outpouring of kindness.
“There’s a lot of community awarenes and it’s a caring community,” Jim Stowers of Kitsap Community Resources said.
Kitsap Community Resources opened a new transitional housing facility in Central Kitsap on Jan. 21. Prior to the home’s opening, Stowers sent out a list of supplies he needed. The response was so overwhelming that Stowers now jokes he is afraid of being inundated with a surplus of supplies if he ever asks for more help.
“The response was absolutely amazing,” he said. “It’s really something to be thankful for.”
Kitsap Community Resources has a total of 12 transitional houses spread throughout the county, including one in North Kitsap. The facilities are meant to house families with children for up to 90 days while children for up to 90 days while they secure a more stable living situation.
“We try to take an assessment of where they stand, and try to establish goals, and in that 90 days try to bring them to a place where they’re self-sufficient,” Stowers said. “It’s not just a place to stay, it’s a place to grow.”
Much of the need for homeless assistance is also met by nonprofit groups. Catholic Community Services runs the Benedict House in Bremerton, the only emergency and transitional housing facility in the county for homeless single men and men with children. Saint Vincent de Paul focuses its housing efforts on women in need. Several other organizations offer showers, warm clothing and help with things like utility payments.
The North Kitsap Fishline food bank in Poulsbo, and ShareNet in Kingston provide meal packages for individuals and families. Many food banks have seen an increase in demand in recent years, but not everyone who needs help is willing to ask for it.
“We used to donate for the food bank, now we need to use the food bank,” said Kaley Burns, a student at Spectrum Community School in Kingston whose parents have struggled with unemployment. “But my mom won’t use it. She thinks there’s more people that need to use it than us.”
Asking for help can be humbling, but it can also relieve pressure caused by strained budgets, a concern that’s becoming more commonplace.
“When my mom first used (the food bank), she felt really bad, but then she realized how poor we were, because we barely had 20 bucks to last us the week,” said Ricky O’Brien, a Spectrum student who has experienced homelessness in the past. “I’ve pretty much lived off of food banks and everything else for all my life, even now. It’s just not as much now.”
In addition to food banks, Kitsap County has several feeding programs for people who would otherwise be forced to skip meals. In North Kitsap, First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo hosts a free dinner at 5 p.m. every Thursday. North Kitsap Baptist Church has a free meal from 5-7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. And the Suquamish Community Kitchen also offers free food from 5-7 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month.
The Kitsap Continuum of Care Coalition also connects people with homeless and low-income services. On Jan. 28-29, the group teamed up with Americorps and other local organizations to perform an annual “point-in-time” count of homeless people in Kitsap County. The count helps local advocacy groups determine what the community’s needs are and where those needs are greatest. The coalition is still tabulating the final numbers in this year’s count. Last year, they identified 937 homeless people in the county, and they expect a similar amount this year. Those numbers fluctuate often, as people’s situations change.
“Everybody realizes it’s a point in time count, so it’s not a definitive number, even when we get the final numbers,” Coalition Coordinator Terry Schroeder said.
The centerpiece of the count was an event called Project Connect, held at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. Homeless people and anyone in need of transitional housing were invited to the Kitsap Pavilion to spend the night, receive clothing, blankets and services, and get connected to shelters. Nearly 200 people came to the event this year.
“To me,” Schroeder said, “just having one person say they got the help they needed at that event makes it worth it in my mind.”
Where to find resources
To get connected with a shelter or other services, call Kitsap Community Resources at (360) 478-2301, visit the office at 845 8th St., Bremerton, or contact Kitsap’s Continuum of Care Coalition at (360) 473-2028 or at 1201 Park Ave., Bremerton.
Awareness week
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
November 15th - 19th 2010
Want your week to be successful?
Download the Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Toolkit here.
We will only eradicate hunger and homelessness by building a movement from the ground up - a movement comprised of a diverse population that demands an end to these unnecessary social ills.
By educating the public and future decision-makers, the National Student Campaign builds awareness that will help dismantle stereotypes and misinformation about homelessness, hunger, and the root causes of poverty. Once individuals have a better understanding of these problems, they are inspired to take action by volunteering, donating funds or resources, writing to their local newspaper, or calling their member of Congress. Each action brings us one step closer to ending hunger and homelessness.
Co-sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week consists of a series of events designed to educate the campus community, increase community service, and build campus and community coalitions. More than 500 campuses and communities participate in this week during the week before Thanksgiving each year by organizing education, service and advocacy events.
Register your school to participate in the 2010 Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week
Contact Person:
Organization Name:
School:
Location:
(City, State, ZIP)
Email:
Phone:
What events are you planning this year?
Has your organization planned H & H Week events in the past? If so, for how many years and what have you done? Please list specific highlights:
The Campaign is committed to ending hunger and homelessness in America by educating, engaging, and training students to directly meet individuals' immediate needs while advocating for long-term systemic solutions. Privacy Policy
November 15th - 19th 2010
Want your week to be successful?
Download the Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Toolkit here.
We will only eradicate hunger and homelessness by building a movement from the ground up - a movement comprised of a diverse population that demands an end to these unnecessary social ills.
By educating the public and future decision-makers, the National Student Campaign builds awareness that will help dismantle stereotypes and misinformation about homelessness, hunger, and the root causes of poverty. Once individuals have a better understanding of these problems, they are inspired to take action by volunteering, donating funds or resources, writing to their local newspaper, or calling their member of Congress. Each action brings us one step closer to ending hunger and homelessness.
Co-sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week consists of a series of events designed to educate the campus community, increase community service, and build campus and community coalitions. More than 500 campuses and communities participate in this week during the week before Thanksgiving each year by organizing education, service and advocacy events.
Register your school to participate in the 2010 Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week
Contact Person:
Organization Name:
School:
Location:
(City, State, ZIP)
Email:
Phone:
What events are you planning this year?
Has your organization planned H & H Week events in the past? If so, for how many years and what have you done? Please list specific highlights:
The Campaign is committed to ending hunger and homelessness in America by educating, engaging, and training students to directly meet individuals' immediate needs while advocating for long-term systemic solutions. Privacy Policy
Safe Park in Poulsbo for homeless
‘Safe park’ for Poulsbo’s homeless is a good start
Last week the Poulsbo City Council discussed setting up a “safe park” area to give those people living in their cars a place to sleep overnight. The safe park would allow them to park without being targeted by criminals or breaking the law themselves. It also would grant them access to restroom facilities and — here’s the step in the right direction — a case worker.
The case worker, we’re presuming, would be able to give those who are homeless access to services from which they can benefit. The goal, of course, is to move them from their cars into a permanent home, according to Leif Bentsen, human services planner for the county Department of Personnel and Human Services.
“Living in your car is not a solution,” he said. “It gets them in the loop of getting out.”
He and homeless advocate Sally Santana were at a meeting last week at Olympic College during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week to promote the idea.
This Friday, when those who are blessed with an abundance are mobbing shopping malls and fighting off tryptophan sluggishness, we have a need for pause.
There are those right here in our communities who don’t have a roof over their heads or enough to eat. We need to reach out to them; to give them the resources they need to turn their lives around.
A safe place to park their cars at night and a case worker to act as their advocate is a good start.
Last week the Poulsbo City Council discussed setting up a “safe park” area to give those people living in their cars a place to sleep overnight. The safe park would allow them to park without being targeted by criminals or breaking the law themselves. It also would grant them access to restroom facilities and — here’s the step in the right direction — a case worker.
The case worker, we’re presuming, would be able to give those who are homeless access to services from which they can benefit. The goal, of course, is to move them from their cars into a permanent home, according to Leif Bentsen, human services planner for the county Department of Personnel and Human Services.
“Living in your car is not a solution,” he said. “It gets them in the loop of getting out.”
He and homeless advocate Sally Santana were at a meeting last week at Olympic College during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week to promote the idea.
This Friday, when those who are blessed with an abundance are mobbing shopping malls and fighting off tryptophan sluggishness, we have a need for pause.
There are those right here in our communities who don’t have a roof over their heads or enough to eat. We need to reach out to them; to give them the resources they need to turn their lives around.
A safe place to park their cars at night and a case worker to act as their advocate is a good start.
POULSBO SEES RISE IN HOMELESS NUMBERS
POULSBO SEES RISE IN HOMELESS NUMBERS
by Tammy Adamson-McMullen
Media coverage last year about the death of Chris T. Christensen, a homeless man who lived in a tent near the 305 on-ramp onto Highway 3 South, surprised some Poulsbo residents who didn’t realize Little Norway even had a homeless population.
Although not always visible on the streets, Poulsbo’s homeless population is on the rise, say the agencies trying to help.
“Most of our homeless live in the woods,” said Bob Middlebrook, executive director of Poulsbo’s Sound Works Job Center. “We also have a class of homeless people who are called ‘couch surfers.’ They live with friends or relatives until they are kicked out.”
The newly unemployed are particularly vulnerable to homelessness. Middlebrook said he was approached just recently by two unemployed landscapers fearful that, unless they found jobs quickly, they would be living out of their cars.
“They had the skills,” Middlebrook said, “but I had no jobs to put them in.”
These cases aren’t unique. People come to Sound Works everyday with similar stories.
Middlebrook reported that there is a group of newly homeless, based out of Poulsbo, who already are living in their cars and park together at night in available lots.
As the weather turned bitterly cold last month, shelter became available at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. Organized by the Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management and the Kitsap County Continuum of Care Coalition, the shelter is to remain open as long as the cold snap continues. The shelter offers food, hot coffee and a place to sleep.
Additionally, there has been talk of organizing a shelter in Poulsbo at the First Lutheran Church. Connie Lord, a church member, has been involved at the Fairgrounds shelter and is looking to open something similar, drawing on volunteer help. The church office confirmed that the shelter is still in the “talking” stages.
First Lutheran currently serves as a Red Cross emergency shelter.
Wherever it comes from, assistance is desperately needed, said Karen Timken, executive director of North Kitsap Fishline.
Timken reported that the food bank has seen an increase in newly homeless clients as the economy has worsened. By October of last year, the agency had spent roughly $57,250 on services for the homeless as well as to help clients with rent, utilities and medical co-pays.
“Client services expenses are up 626 percent over 2007,” Timken reported.
Lori Oberlander, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap County, said many of the applications the organization is receiving for housing requests are from people who have just recently lost their jobs or benefits.
“About 30 percent are recently laid off and trying to get services,” she said.
When there are more qualified applicants than available housing lots, Habitat scores the applicants according to their need, ability to pay and willingness to partner with Habitat in building the home. “Then, we simply take as many as we can, starting with the highest scores, and work our way down to the ones with the lowest scores,” she said.
Among those who have faced the very real possibility of not having a roof over their heads is Megan (last name withheld), a recently divorced mother with two boys, ages 5 and 10.
Megan graduated last year from Olympic College’s nursing program and was studying for her nursing board exams when her father fell ill with pancreatic cancer.
“I was being supported by my parents financially until I could get a nursing job, but with my dad’s illness, that changed,” she said.
Megan put her board exams on hold to help care for her father. She also took two jobs serving food at local restaurants to help pay the bills. But the pay wasn’t enough.
“The economy is so bad that people aren’t dining out anymore,” Megan said. As a result, “I couldn’t afford my rent, my car payment or food,” she said. “And my parents weren’t able to help in any way; they actually needed my help. Everything was spiraling downhill …”
Just as her situation was getting desperate, Megan ended up being accepted into Mutual Self-Help Program of the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority (KCCHA).
The program allows income-eligible applicants the opportunity to own their own homes by joining with other applicants to build each others’ homes with help and training from KCCHA. In exchange, the applicants receive reduced mortgage payments that are based on their income and not on current interest rates.
Megan also received assistance from Fishline, which helped pay the insurance on her new home and assisted with other expenses.
As a result of the help she received, Megan recently moved into her new home and has begun studying to take her board exams. She noted that the KCCHA program, with Fishline’s help, threw her a lifeline. Many of Megan’s friends also are in need of that lifeline, she added.
“I have a friend who's a painter who just got laid off, one who works for a newspaper who just got laid off and one who works for a restaurant who just got laid off,” she said. “All of these people are good, hard-working people … and they’re panicked.”
Meanwhile, Megan is thrilled that she and the boys have a roof over their heads that they can call their own.
“Getting a house is life-changing,” she said.
ASSISTANCE CONTACTS
For information about the KCCHA self-build program, visit http://www.kccha.org/selfhelp/selfhelp.htm. KCCHA’s self-build neighborhood in Poulsbo is located at the corner of Mesford and Noll roads.
To reach Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap County, visit kitsaphabitat.org.
For food and other assistance, visit North Kitsap Fishline at at 18916 Third Ave. NE in Poulsbo.
For help in finding employment, contact Sound Works Job Center at (360) 779-1160. Sound Works also maintains a database of contacts for health, food, clothing and medical services and other assistance through nonprofit agencies. Sound Works is located at 19131 Eighth Ave., next to the Poulsbo Library.
by Tammy Adamson-McMullen
Media coverage last year about the death of Chris T. Christensen, a homeless man who lived in a tent near the 305 on-ramp onto Highway 3 South, surprised some Poulsbo residents who didn’t realize Little Norway even had a homeless population.
Although not always visible on the streets, Poulsbo’s homeless population is on the rise, say the agencies trying to help.
“Most of our homeless live in the woods,” said Bob Middlebrook, executive director of Poulsbo’s Sound Works Job Center. “We also have a class of homeless people who are called ‘couch surfers.’ They live with friends or relatives until they are kicked out.”
The newly unemployed are particularly vulnerable to homelessness. Middlebrook said he was approached just recently by two unemployed landscapers fearful that, unless they found jobs quickly, they would be living out of their cars.
“They had the skills,” Middlebrook said, “but I had no jobs to put them in.”
These cases aren’t unique. People come to Sound Works everyday with similar stories.
Middlebrook reported that there is a group of newly homeless, based out of Poulsbo, who already are living in their cars and park together at night in available lots.
As the weather turned bitterly cold last month, shelter became available at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. Organized by the Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management and the Kitsap County Continuum of Care Coalition, the shelter is to remain open as long as the cold snap continues. The shelter offers food, hot coffee and a place to sleep.
Additionally, there has been talk of organizing a shelter in Poulsbo at the First Lutheran Church. Connie Lord, a church member, has been involved at the Fairgrounds shelter and is looking to open something similar, drawing on volunteer help. The church office confirmed that the shelter is still in the “talking” stages.
First Lutheran currently serves as a Red Cross emergency shelter.
Wherever it comes from, assistance is desperately needed, said Karen Timken, executive director of North Kitsap Fishline.
Timken reported that the food bank has seen an increase in newly homeless clients as the economy has worsened. By October of last year, the agency had spent roughly $57,250 on services for the homeless as well as to help clients with rent, utilities and medical co-pays.
“Client services expenses are up 626 percent over 2007,” Timken reported.
Lori Oberlander, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap County, said many of the applications the organization is receiving for housing requests are from people who have just recently lost their jobs or benefits.
“About 30 percent are recently laid off and trying to get services,” she said.
When there are more qualified applicants than available housing lots, Habitat scores the applicants according to their need, ability to pay and willingness to partner with Habitat in building the home. “Then, we simply take as many as we can, starting with the highest scores, and work our way down to the ones with the lowest scores,” she said.
Among those who have faced the very real possibility of not having a roof over their heads is Megan (last name withheld), a recently divorced mother with two boys, ages 5 and 10.
Megan graduated last year from Olympic College’s nursing program and was studying for her nursing board exams when her father fell ill with pancreatic cancer.
“I was being supported by my parents financially until I could get a nursing job, but with my dad’s illness, that changed,” she said.
Megan put her board exams on hold to help care for her father. She also took two jobs serving food at local restaurants to help pay the bills. But the pay wasn’t enough.
“The economy is so bad that people aren’t dining out anymore,” Megan said. As a result, “I couldn’t afford my rent, my car payment or food,” she said. “And my parents weren’t able to help in any way; they actually needed my help. Everything was spiraling downhill …”
Just as her situation was getting desperate, Megan ended up being accepted into Mutual Self-Help Program of the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority (KCCHA).
The program allows income-eligible applicants the opportunity to own their own homes by joining with other applicants to build each others’ homes with help and training from KCCHA. In exchange, the applicants receive reduced mortgage payments that are based on their income and not on current interest rates.
Megan also received assistance from Fishline, which helped pay the insurance on her new home and assisted with other expenses.
As a result of the help she received, Megan recently moved into her new home and has begun studying to take her board exams. She noted that the KCCHA program, with Fishline’s help, threw her a lifeline. Many of Megan’s friends also are in need of that lifeline, she added.
“I have a friend who's a painter who just got laid off, one who works for a newspaper who just got laid off and one who works for a restaurant who just got laid off,” she said. “All of these people are good, hard-working people … and they’re panicked.”
Meanwhile, Megan is thrilled that she and the boys have a roof over their heads that they can call their own.
“Getting a house is life-changing,” she said.
ASSISTANCE CONTACTS
For information about the KCCHA self-build program, visit http://www.kccha.org/selfhelp/selfhelp.htm. KCCHA’s self-build neighborhood in Poulsbo is located at the corner of Mesford and Noll roads.
To reach Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap County, visit kitsaphabitat.org.
For food and other assistance, visit North Kitsap Fishline at at 18916 Third Ave. NE in Poulsbo.
For help in finding employment, contact Sound Works Job Center at (360) 779-1160. Sound Works also maintains a database of contacts for health, food, clothing and medical services and other assistance through nonprofit agencies. Sound Works is located at 19131 Eighth Ave., next to the Poulsbo Library.
Terry Douglas and staff helps
erry Douglas and Crew Help the Homeless at Poulsbo Inn September 20, 2009
I went by the Poulsbo Inn about 12:30 p.m. today and sure enough there was a garage sale there to benefit the Chris Christensen Fund. I went in and introduced my self to three gals who were working the sale. I met Terry Douglas who manages the Inn and she told me Chris Christensen stayed there one night each month on the dime of the Vets. I guess Chris served our nation that way.
The other 29 days of the month Chris stayed out in the cloverleaf on Hwy 305. Terry and her employees got to know Chris and they became family. How cool is that?! Now, with Chris having died, apparently of a failed liver (according to the good folks at Poulsbo Red Apple, who also were very kind to Chris), Terry and her crew raise funds to let others who are in Chris’ shoes stay at the Poulsbo Inn. Now is that cool??
Terry told me they plan to do the garage sales periodically. Now, if you want to help Terry and her cre, you can give to the Bremerton Rescue Mission (www.bremrescue.org) and just note on your gift ‘Chris Christensen Fund’ and we’ll make sure Terry Douglas
Poulsbo Inn
gets your gift so that people who need a place to stay can stay at the Poulsbo Inn.
Poulsbo Inn – www.poulsboinn.com
I went by the Poulsbo Inn about 12:30 p.m. today and sure enough there was a garage sale there to benefit the Chris Christensen Fund. I went in and introduced my self to three gals who were working the sale. I met Terry Douglas who manages the Inn and she told me Chris Christensen stayed there one night each month on the dime of the Vets. I guess Chris served our nation that way.
The other 29 days of the month Chris stayed out in the cloverleaf on Hwy 305. Terry and her employees got to know Chris and they became family. How cool is that?! Now, with Chris having died, apparently of a failed liver (according to the good folks at Poulsbo Red Apple, who also were very kind to Chris), Terry and her crew raise funds to let others who are in Chris’ shoes stay at the Poulsbo Inn. Now is that cool??
Terry told me they plan to do the garage sales periodically. Now, if you want to help Terry and her cre, you can give to the Bremerton Rescue Mission (www.bremrescue.org) and just note on your gift ‘Chris Christensen Fund’ and we’ll make sure Terry Douglas
Poulsbo Inn
gets your gift so that people who need a place to stay can stay at the Poulsbo Inn.
Poulsbo Inn – www.poulsboinn.com
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Homeless with a golden voice
Ted Williams’ voice, is so deep, so compelling and so rare, that in just couple of days he has gone from being homeless to famous.
The former morning drive DJ, spent only a short time pursuing his dream job before destroying his life and career with drugs and alcohol.
But after a YouTube video of him panhandling surfaced on Monday, the Brooklyn-born Williams has since been offered a job by the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and is being pursued by NFL Films for voiceover work. So far, more than 4 million people have watched the video.
Tomorrow he is appearing live in the studio of the "Today" show and will be reunited with his 90-year-old mother who he has not seen since 1986.
"All I wanted was a job and possibly a place to live and maybe be a productive taxpaying citizen again," Williams, 53, told The Post yesterday. "This thing has turned into something of such a magnitude that I can’t even comprehend it."
He says he has lived on the streets of Columbus, Ohio since 1996 and been sober for just over two years.
"Whoever you are, I appreciate everything that has happened to me in this one day," he said. "Because you never know what is going to happen the next. If I don’t get nothing out of nothing, at least I get some prayers answered. One of them is that my mom would live enough to see me be successful."
Ted Williams, a homeless man who is the subject of viral video that has captivated the internet at large, has been offered a full-time job and a mortgage on a home by Quicken Loans Arena and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
A woman named Tracy, representing Quicken Loans and the Cavaliers, called WNCI 97.9 on Wednesday morning and made the offer. CNBC's Darren Rovell confirmed the authenticity of the offer on Twitter. Williams was inundated with offers throughout his appearance, so there is no word whether the offer has been accepted or signed at this point.
Williams story became a viral sensation on Tuesday with the original YouTube clip reaching more than four million views in 24 hours. He was found by a Columbus Dispatch reporter on the side of the road, using his incredible voice to collect money on the street. You can watch the original clip here.
The Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena are offering voiceover work in radio and television along with a new website launch that will require voiceover work from Williams.
You can hear the interview with Ted Williams on WNCI by clicking here.
The Cavaliers offer does not figure to be the last one that Williams receives. According to Rovell on Twitter, NFL Films is looking to contact the man dubbed the "Homeless D.J." about work. Williams is also sorting through numerous opportunities for other appearance on national TV and radio, which could result in further offers in the days to come.
ed Williams, a homeless man with a voice made for radio, has a job and a house after a YouTube video report by the Columbus Dispatch went viral.
Ted Williams panhandles, or panhandled, in Cleveland, OH. He has become an Internet sensation after Columbus Dispatch reporter Kevin Joy posted a clip of Williams on YouTube. The clip showed how Williams, who would panhandle with the help of a sign that advertised his "God-given gift of voice," sounded, and it was much like you would expect on radio or voiceover work.
The cardboard sign, which Ted Williams would use to attract attention, said:
"I HAVE A GOD GIVEN GIFT OF VOICE. I'M AN EX-RADIO ANNOUNCER WHO HAS FALLEN ON HARD TIMES. PLEASE! ANY HELP WILL BE GREATEFULLY (sic) APPRECIATED. THANK YOU!"
In the interview with the Columbus Dispatch, Williams said it was alcohol and drugs that led to his homelessness. He added that he had been clean for two years.
He's already received an offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he hasn't accepted it yet. It's been reported that MTV, NFL Films, and ESPN, among others, have reached out to Williams, as well.
At the same time, he's making the rounds of morning shows. Ted Williams appeared on CBS' The Early Show on Wednesday, and will appear on The Today Show on Thursday.
If you listen to Williams' voice, you will indeed notice the timber and tones which make you believe, indeed "this is a homeless man with a radio voice."
The former morning drive DJ, spent only a short time pursuing his dream job before destroying his life and career with drugs and alcohol.
But after a YouTube video of him panhandling surfaced on Monday, the Brooklyn-born Williams has since been offered a job by the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and is being pursued by NFL Films for voiceover work. So far, more than 4 million people have watched the video.
Tomorrow he is appearing live in the studio of the "Today" show and will be reunited with his 90-year-old mother who he has not seen since 1986.
"All I wanted was a job and possibly a place to live and maybe be a productive taxpaying citizen again," Williams, 53, told The Post yesterday. "This thing has turned into something of such a magnitude that I can’t even comprehend it."
He says he has lived on the streets of Columbus, Ohio since 1996 and been sober for just over two years.
"Whoever you are, I appreciate everything that has happened to me in this one day," he said. "Because you never know what is going to happen the next. If I don’t get nothing out of nothing, at least I get some prayers answered. One of them is that my mom would live enough to see me be successful."
Ted Williams, a homeless man who is the subject of viral video that has captivated the internet at large, has been offered a full-time job and a mortgage on a home by Quicken Loans Arena and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
A woman named Tracy, representing Quicken Loans and the Cavaliers, called WNCI 97.9 on Wednesday morning and made the offer. CNBC's Darren Rovell confirmed the authenticity of the offer on Twitter. Williams was inundated with offers throughout his appearance, so there is no word whether the offer has been accepted or signed at this point.
Williams story became a viral sensation on Tuesday with the original YouTube clip reaching more than four million views in 24 hours. He was found by a Columbus Dispatch reporter on the side of the road, using his incredible voice to collect money on the street. You can watch the original clip here.
The Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena are offering voiceover work in radio and television along with a new website launch that will require voiceover work from Williams.
You can hear the interview with Ted Williams on WNCI by clicking here.
The Cavaliers offer does not figure to be the last one that Williams receives. According to Rovell on Twitter, NFL Films is looking to contact the man dubbed the "Homeless D.J." about work. Williams is also sorting through numerous opportunities for other appearance on national TV and radio, which could result in further offers in the days to come.
ed Williams, a homeless man with a voice made for radio, has a job and a house after a YouTube video report by the Columbus Dispatch went viral.
Ted Williams panhandles, or panhandled, in Cleveland, OH. He has become an Internet sensation after Columbus Dispatch reporter Kevin Joy posted a clip of Williams on YouTube. The clip showed how Williams, who would panhandle with the help of a sign that advertised his "God-given gift of voice," sounded, and it was much like you would expect on radio or voiceover work.
The cardboard sign, which Ted Williams would use to attract attention, said:
"I HAVE A GOD GIVEN GIFT OF VOICE. I'M AN EX-RADIO ANNOUNCER WHO HAS FALLEN ON HARD TIMES. PLEASE! ANY HELP WILL BE GREATEFULLY (sic) APPRECIATED. THANK YOU!"
In the interview with the Columbus Dispatch, Williams said it was alcohol and drugs that led to his homelessness. He added that he had been clean for two years.
He's already received an offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he hasn't accepted it yet. It's been reported that MTV, NFL Films, and ESPN, among others, have reached out to Williams, as well.
At the same time, he's making the rounds of morning shows. Ted Williams appeared on CBS' The Early Show on Wednesday, and will appear on The Today Show on Thursday.
If you listen to Williams' voice, you will indeed notice the timber and tones which make you believe, indeed "this is a homeless man with a radio voice."
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Emergemcu Shelters in Kitsap County
Kitsap County
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 700 Callahan Ave., Bremerton
The Coffee Oasis 822 Burwell St. Bremerton (teens only)
First Lutheran Church, 18920 4th Ave., Poulsbo
Call 211 or check with the Salvation Army, local food banks or the libraries to see if the shelter will be activated.
For more information about the process, call 211 or Jim Stowers, Kitsap Community Resources, (360)-473-2047.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 700 Callahan Ave., Bremerton
The Coffee Oasis 822 Burwell St. Bremerton (teens only)
First Lutheran Church, 18920 4th Ave., Poulsbo
Call 211 or check with the Salvation Army, local food banks or the libraries to see if the shelter will be activated.
For more information about the process, call 211 or Jim Stowers, Kitsap Community Resources, (360)-473-2047.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Homeless shelter to open in Silverdale
During better economic times, one to two families a week would check into Kitsap Community Resources to inform the organization of their homelessness.
For some of these families, it stemmed from financial conditions, such as job loss or medical costs.
For other families, the issue was domestic abuse, or other family related matters.
During the recession, this number spiked, as KCR is regularly notified by five or more families per week that they have lost their home.
“When you don’t have a dollar and you don’t have a dollar to buy a home, you have a slim chance to live,” KCR Housing Director Darlene Cook said.
In response, KCR is opening a new temporary housing shelter on Anderson Hill in Silverdale, designed to hold up to six families.
Bert Furuta, director of Kitsap County Personnel and Human Services, said the shelter will be available only to women with children, which he described as “our most vulnerable population.”
“We need more emergency shelters,” Cook said. “The minimal time we can spend integrating them into the community can make them far more stable. With the homeless kids, they often keep it a secret and don’t tell their friends. If a family continues to be homeless, studies show the kids are far less likely to go back to school.”
Overall, 154 families are on KCR’s waiting list for emergency shelter. These families represent 469 people, 257 of which are children.
An estimated 639 families, representing 937 individuals, were homeless at the end of 2008, according to statistics from the Kitsap County Jail. New statistics for the homeless are compiled during the end of January each year.
For the homeless, this facility is not the long-term solution.
Residents may stay at the facility for a maximum number of 90 days. Feruta said the residents are required to meet with a KCR representative at least once a week to assist with potential employment.
KCR also works with the children to ensure they are enrolled in schools, and have transportation to them.
The non-profit One-Church One-Family, which is paying the utilities for the facility, will provide a support group for the residents while KCR provides case management, said Rick Best, the group’s executive director.
“We want to be a listening ear,” he said. “We want to provide personal, spiritual and emotional help.”
One-Church One-Family is a group of volunteers from Kitsap Churches that began in response to local Hurricane Katrina victims. Best said the group already helps the county operate 10 other units for the homeless and has had a 73 percent success rate during the past five years helping the homeless become full home owners.
For 25 years, the Sound Institute, formerly Kitsap Youth Homes had
operated in the facility as a crisis residential treatment center for non-offender children through Kitsap County Juvenile Services.
In late 2008, the state notified the county that it was unwilling to continue funding the facility, which cost $670,000 annually.
“The funding just wasn’t there. There is a real hole in the county without this program,” said Ned Delmore, director of services at the Kitsap County Juvenile Department. “But this homeless program is as important as any.”
KCR approached the county in fall about using the facility for temporary housing. Feruta said the county is providing an $8,000 start-up grant, but that it will be privately run by KCR, One-Church One-Family and volunteers there after.
Six dormitory style rooms are in the facility, three of which are furnished and three which still need basic appliances, Furuta said.
Employees from six local businesses and department contacted KCR to sponsor rooms in the facility during the past month: Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue, Jazzercise and Centcom Employees, as well the Kitsap County Information Services Department, Juvenile Services and Assessor and Treasuries.
These groups will provide basic items for the rooms, such as pillows, sheets and blankets.
Feruta hopes the facility opens by the beginning of January, if not by Christmas.
“There’s a bit of urgency,” he said. “If we can get six families out of the cold then that’s a great Christmas present.”
For some of these families, it stemmed from financial conditions, such as job loss or medical costs.
For other families, the issue was domestic abuse, or other family related matters.
During the recession, this number spiked, as KCR is regularly notified by five or more families per week that they have lost their home.
“When you don’t have a dollar and you don’t have a dollar to buy a home, you have a slim chance to live,” KCR Housing Director Darlene Cook said.
In response, KCR is opening a new temporary housing shelter on Anderson Hill in Silverdale, designed to hold up to six families.
Bert Furuta, director of Kitsap County Personnel and Human Services, said the shelter will be available only to women with children, which he described as “our most vulnerable population.”
“We need more emergency shelters,” Cook said. “The minimal time we can spend integrating them into the community can make them far more stable. With the homeless kids, they often keep it a secret and don’t tell their friends. If a family continues to be homeless, studies show the kids are far less likely to go back to school.”
Overall, 154 families are on KCR’s waiting list for emergency shelter. These families represent 469 people, 257 of which are children.
An estimated 639 families, representing 937 individuals, were homeless at the end of 2008, according to statistics from the Kitsap County Jail. New statistics for the homeless are compiled during the end of January each year.
For the homeless, this facility is not the long-term solution.
Residents may stay at the facility for a maximum number of 90 days. Feruta said the residents are required to meet with a KCR representative at least once a week to assist with potential employment.
KCR also works with the children to ensure they are enrolled in schools, and have transportation to them.
The non-profit One-Church One-Family, which is paying the utilities for the facility, will provide a support group for the residents while KCR provides case management, said Rick Best, the group’s executive director.
“We want to be a listening ear,” he said. “We want to provide personal, spiritual and emotional help.”
One-Church One-Family is a group of volunteers from Kitsap Churches that began in response to local Hurricane Katrina victims. Best said the group already helps the county operate 10 other units for the homeless and has had a 73 percent success rate during the past five years helping the homeless become full home owners.
For 25 years, the Sound Institute, formerly Kitsap Youth Homes had
operated in the facility as a crisis residential treatment center for non-offender children through Kitsap County Juvenile Services.
In late 2008, the state notified the county that it was unwilling to continue funding the facility, which cost $670,000 annually.
“The funding just wasn’t there. There is a real hole in the county without this program,” said Ned Delmore, director of services at the Kitsap County Juvenile Department. “But this homeless program is as important as any.”
KCR approached the county in fall about using the facility for temporary housing. Feruta said the county is providing an $8,000 start-up grant, but that it will be privately run by KCR, One-Church One-Family and volunteers there after.
Six dormitory style rooms are in the facility, three of which are furnished and three which still need basic appliances, Furuta said.
Employees from six local businesses and department contacted KCR to sponsor rooms in the facility during the past month: Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue, Jazzercise and Centcom Employees, as well the Kitsap County Information Services Department, Juvenile Services and Assessor and Treasuries.
These groups will provide basic items for the rooms, such as pillows, sheets and blankets.
Feruta hopes the facility opens by the beginning of January, if not by Christmas.
“There’s a bit of urgency,” he said. “If we can get six families out of the cold then that’s a great Christmas present.”
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Starting a Homeless Ministry
Starting a Homeless Ministry
By David J. Stewart
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD...” —Proverb 19:17
Starting a Homeless Ministry is one of the simplest, easiest and most rewarding ministries to have. Every church should have an outreach ministry to the homeless in their local community. It is churches, and not the government, who ought to be helping the needy. The Lord asks Christian believers to help the poor, visit the prisoners and reach the lost with the Gospel. It is our responsibility. Although we can't help everybody, we can certainly help somebody in the Lord.
There are many different ways to help the homeless, ranging from simply providing them with a free packaged-meal and some Gospel literature, to going as far as providing a shelter for them to temporarily lodge for the night to escape the brutal cold. I would definitely recommend giving out blankets, gloves, hats and warm clothing during the winter months.
It is heartbreaking to see someone living in a cardboard box in an alley as a makeshift home. It is common in big cities to see the homeless living down in the subways, away from the chilling winter winds, or sleeping on heated sidewalk air vents from nearby skyscrapers. The homeless are often shunned, despised and inhumanly treated by business owners. They are often beaten, bullied and robbed. Where are the poor to go?
BIBLICAL MANDATE TO HELP THE POOR
“But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” —1st John 3:17
Homeless people are dear to the heart of God. Most people today are selfish, having a nice place to live, and only think about themselves. As Christians, we ought to be different from the unsaved world, exemplifying the Lord in our daily lives. The Bible teaches us in Philippians 2:4-5 . . . “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Jesus was always thinking about helping OTHERS, which is what Philippians 2:4-5 says we are to do also. We ought to constantly look for opportunities to do things to help those in need. The hallmark character trait of being a Christian is genuine concern for others.
“Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble” (Psalm 41:1).
“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy” (Psalm 82:3).
“Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:4).
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor” (Proverb:14:31).
“Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy” (Proverb:31:9).
These are just a few of the multitudes of Scriptures that command us to help the poor and needy.
SOULWINNING AND THE POOR
Helping the homeless must NEVER take precedence over preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ . . . “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing ... Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth” (1st Corinthians 13:3,6). The word “charity” here means LOVE. 1st Corinthians 13:6 tells us that genuine Biblical LOVE rejoices in THE TRUTH. Sadly, many apostate religious groups today such as the Salvation Army have compromised their convictions, spending most of their time helping the needy at the expense of preaching the truth. What does it matter if we feed the hungry, cloth the naked and shelter the homeless if they die and go to Hell because we failed to preach the Gospel to them? I wouldn't give you a dime for any ministry that is not aggressively preaching the Gospel and placing the truth of God's Word at the forefront of their ministerial efforts. This is critically important.
“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” (James 2:5).
“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled” (Luke 14:23).
Soulwinning is every believers calling and duty. God said in Luke 14:23 that He wants His house “filled.” The Bible commissions us to “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in.” One of the biggest problems with most churches today is that they meet behind closed doors a few times a month, but never obey the Lord's command to “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in.” Many churches operate more like a secret occult organization than they do a New Testament church. What behind those church walls? How will people know if you don't have outreach ministries?
If we are to obey the Lord's command to “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in,” then we must “Go out.” This means putting forth a conscious effort to reach the lost for Christ. In Acts 20:20 (often referred to as the soulwinner's 20/20 vision) the Apostle Paul went soulwinning HOUSE-TO-HOUSE publicly . . . “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house.” That is God's method of winning souls—public evangelism.
SAFETY
The foremost concern when dealing with the homeless should always be your own safety. It is a matter of common sense. ALWAYS have someone with you. It is unwise to minister alone in today's society.
It's also recommended to minister in the daytime only, preferably in known areas where homeless people reside. It would be very helpful to speak with other ministries in the area who work with the homeless. Never trespass on private property or enter into secluded areas that may compromise your safety.
Also, be aware of the reputation of the neighborhood you're in. Every major city has certain areas that are just too dangerous for ladies and children to enter into. Avoid high crime areas. If you do enter into such areas, keep in mind that there's more safety in numbers. The goal is to reach the poor for Christ and meet some of their basic necessities without getting mugged in the process.
If you meet a homeless person who you feel needs medical attention, call 911 for them. It's not recommended to let them ride in your own vehicle, unless you have a partner with you. However, even if you have a ministry partner, NEVER allow someone of the opposite sex to enter into your vehicle. You can't be too careful these days. The Bible admonishes us to be careful . . .
“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished” (Proverb 22:3).
“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1st Thessalonians 5:22).
Also, it's never wise to wear expensive jewelry or watches when in public.
If you come across any stray dogs that look threatening, reach down as if you are going to pick up a rock. This scars away nearly all dogs. It really works. I guess they know from experience.
Matthew 25:35, “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in.”
WHAT TO GIVE THE HOMELESS
I RARELY give more than a dollar or so to people who ask; but I often give $10 to $20 and food to poor looking folks who don't ask. If they are asking me, I don't know if they're sincere or not; but if I'm offering something to them, and they're not asking, then I know they're sincere. I look for homeless people everywhere I go and keep a stack of The Gospel of John in my car to give them with some money inside. Homeless people are dear to the heart of God.
A lot of people condemn giving money to the poor on the basis that they'll go buy alcohol or that they're insincere. That's why I choose who I give money to instead of waiting for them to come to me. When people ask for money, I keep spare change in my pocket and give them a little change, but it's less than a dollar. They thank me. However, when I see a poor person and I choose to give them money, I make it $20 and a Gospel of John. That's how I do it. Unless I suspect alcohol or drugs, I generally always give people something, even if it's a quarter when they ask.
It's good to get into the habit of giving. When I was younger I didn't care enough to look for homeless people to help. And I hardly ever gave anything to people who asked, because I thought they were all bums. As I've grown older I've realized that, except it were for the grace of God, I'd be homeless myself. I may be homeless tomorrow. I don't know. I heard someone say that their future is so bright they have to wear sunglass. I replied that my future is so grim that I have to wear night-vision goggles. I live in agonizing pain 24/7 because of disk problems in my neck. The surgery failed to help in the least. People don't understand why I'm so miserable. As I once heard, Life is what happens to you when you're making big plans. I've never loved homeless people so much. I'm not too far from being homeless myself. God has placed a burden upon my heart for the poor and homeless. There's nothing in this world that I need or want, just give me Jesus.
When I was in West Los Angeles, California, for my neck surgery, I gave a little change away to a man who asked for some money, and then I didn't have enough change to ride the bus. I was 25 cents short. I was mad at myself because I had to walk quite a distance to get more change. But you know, I'd rather be this way than a greedy person who never gives anything to anyone and dies a miserable person. My reward is in Heaven. I plan to keep giving... after I get on the bus.
Most of the time I give them $10 to $20 inside a Gospel Booklet of John (These are T.C. Horton editions of the Gospel of John, which contain much helpful information. T.C. Horton was a faithful Bible teacher at Moody Bible Institute in the early years before they went liberal. I have a few of the originals from 1922. These Gospels of John are a homeless person's best friend. They mean everything to a person who has nothing.)
It is best not to give money to the homeless if they are in an area known for crime, and you think they may be at risk, it just makes them more vulnerable to be robbed.
Unfortunately, some of them will spend the money on alcohol. If I see an alcohol bottle or smell liquor, then I don't give them any money. I don't want to add to their problems. Alcohol is dangerous. Tragically, many homeless people freeze to death during the winter months. The alcohol makes them feel warm, even though they are freezing to death, and they die. Each situation is different and unique. I knew personally of two different men in Chicago who died this way. I hate booze!
Consider what items you would likely need if you were homeless. It's a good idea to assemble some basic necessity gift packages, containing perhaps some of the following items:
New Testament Bible (the Gospel of John would be ideal)
doctrinally sound Gospel literature (which use only the King James Bible)
gloves, socks, earmuffs, scarf and blanket (during winter)
Vienna hotdogs in a can (with easy open lid)
pre-cooked, easy-open foods
Soft snack foods (many of the homeless have dental problems)
Snackables (cheese and crackers)
bottled water
today's newspaper
fresh fruit, nuts, a few pieces of wrapped candy
comb, nail-clippers
A couple small packs of Advil
tissues, handy-wipes
chapstick or lip-balm
hand-lotion for dry-skin
toothpaste and toothbrush
McDonalds gift certificates
Addresses and phone numbers of nearest helpful shelters (enclose $1 in change for phone calls)
Addresses and phone numbers of nearest godly churches
a handwritten note of kindness (it may simply be a brief note; e.g., “given in Jesus' name”)
It's helpful to place all these items in some type of cloth carrying pack that they can continue using.
a small pillow (“...the Son of man hath not where to lay his head,” Matthew 8:20) . . .
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.” —Proverb 14:31
“And of some have compassion, making a difference.” —Jude 22
“He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.”
—Proverb 14:21
A homeless ministry is something that anyone can do. But by the grace of God, we would all be homeless. This life is so short and we'll be in eternity before we know it. I don't know about you, but I want to spend the remainder of my life helping others in Jesus' name, so that I may please the Lord.
Matthew 25:40, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
By David J. Stewart
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD...” —Proverb 19:17
Starting a Homeless Ministry is one of the simplest, easiest and most rewarding ministries to have. Every church should have an outreach ministry to the homeless in their local community. It is churches, and not the government, who ought to be helping the needy. The Lord asks Christian believers to help the poor, visit the prisoners and reach the lost with the Gospel. It is our responsibility. Although we can't help everybody, we can certainly help somebody in the Lord.
There are many different ways to help the homeless, ranging from simply providing them with a free packaged-meal and some Gospel literature, to going as far as providing a shelter for them to temporarily lodge for the night to escape the brutal cold. I would definitely recommend giving out blankets, gloves, hats and warm clothing during the winter months.
It is heartbreaking to see someone living in a cardboard box in an alley as a makeshift home. It is common in big cities to see the homeless living down in the subways, away from the chilling winter winds, or sleeping on heated sidewalk air vents from nearby skyscrapers. The homeless are often shunned, despised and inhumanly treated by business owners. They are often beaten, bullied and robbed. Where are the poor to go?
BIBLICAL MANDATE TO HELP THE POOR
“But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” —1st John 3:17
Homeless people are dear to the heart of God. Most people today are selfish, having a nice place to live, and only think about themselves. As Christians, we ought to be different from the unsaved world, exemplifying the Lord in our daily lives. The Bible teaches us in Philippians 2:4-5 . . . “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Jesus was always thinking about helping OTHERS, which is what Philippians 2:4-5 says we are to do also. We ought to constantly look for opportunities to do things to help those in need. The hallmark character trait of being a Christian is genuine concern for others.
“Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble” (Psalm 41:1).
“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy” (Psalm 82:3).
“Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:4).
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor” (Proverb:14:31).
“Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy” (Proverb:31:9).
These are just a few of the multitudes of Scriptures that command us to help the poor and needy.
SOULWINNING AND THE POOR
Helping the homeless must NEVER take precedence over preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ . . . “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing ... Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth” (1st Corinthians 13:3,6). The word “charity” here means LOVE. 1st Corinthians 13:6 tells us that genuine Biblical LOVE rejoices in THE TRUTH. Sadly, many apostate religious groups today such as the Salvation Army have compromised their convictions, spending most of their time helping the needy at the expense of preaching the truth. What does it matter if we feed the hungry, cloth the naked and shelter the homeless if they die and go to Hell because we failed to preach the Gospel to them? I wouldn't give you a dime for any ministry that is not aggressively preaching the Gospel and placing the truth of God's Word at the forefront of their ministerial efforts. This is critically important.
“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” (James 2:5).
“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled” (Luke 14:23).
Soulwinning is every believers calling and duty. God said in Luke 14:23 that He wants His house “filled.” The Bible commissions us to “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in.” One of the biggest problems with most churches today is that they meet behind closed doors a few times a month, but never obey the Lord's command to “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in.” Many churches operate more like a secret occult organization than they do a New Testament church. What behind those church walls? How will people know if you don't have outreach ministries?
If we are to obey the Lord's command to “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in,” then we must “Go out.” This means putting forth a conscious effort to reach the lost for Christ. In Acts 20:20 (often referred to as the soulwinner's 20/20 vision) the Apostle Paul went soulwinning HOUSE-TO-HOUSE publicly . . . “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house.” That is God's method of winning souls—public evangelism.
SAFETY
The foremost concern when dealing with the homeless should always be your own safety. It is a matter of common sense. ALWAYS have someone with you. It is unwise to minister alone in today's society.
It's also recommended to minister in the daytime only, preferably in known areas where homeless people reside. It would be very helpful to speak with other ministries in the area who work with the homeless. Never trespass on private property or enter into secluded areas that may compromise your safety.
Also, be aware of the reputation of the neighborhood you're in. Every major city has certain areas that are just too dangerous for ladies and children to enter into. Avoid high crime areas. If you do enter into such areas, keep in mind that there's more safety in numbers. The goal is to reach the poor for Christ and meet some of their basic necessities without getting mugged in the process.
If you meet a homeless person who you feel needs medical attention, call 911 for them. It's not recommended to let them ride in your own vehicle, unless you have a partner with you. However, even if you have a ministry partner, NEVER allow someone of the opposite sex to enter into your vehicle. You can't be too careful these days. The Bible admonishes us to be careful . . .
“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished” (Proverb 22:3).
“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1st Thessalonians 5:22).
Also, it's never wise to wear expensive jewelry or watches when in public.
If you come across any stray dogs that look threatening, reach down as if you are going to pick up a rock. This scars away nearly all dogs. It really works. I guess they know from experience.
Matthew 25:35, “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in.”
WHAT TO GIVE THE HOMELESS
I RARELY give more than a dollar or so to people who ask; but I often give $10 to $20 and food to poor looking folks who don't ask. If they are asking me, I don't know if they're sincere or not; but if I'm offering something to them, and they're not asking, then I know they're sincere. I look for homeless people everywhere I go and keep a stack of The Gospel of John in my car to give them with some money inside. Homeless people are dear to the heart of God.
A lot of people condemn giving money to the poor on the basis that they'll go buy alcohol or that they're insincere. That's why I choose who I give money to instead of waiting for them to come to me. When people ask for money, I keep spare change in my pocket and give them a little change, but it's less than a dollar. They thank me. However, when I see a poor person and I choose to give them money, I make it $20 and a Gospel of John. That's how I do it. Unless I suspect alcohol or drugs, I generally always give people something, even if it's a quarter when they ask.
It's good to get into the habit of giving. When I was younger I didn't care enough to look for homeless people to help. And I hardly ever gave anything to people who asked, because I thought they were all bums. As I've grown older I've realized that, except it were for the grace of God, I'd be homeless myself. I may be homeless tomorrow. I don't know. I heard someone say that their future is so bright they have to wear sunglass. I replied that my future is so grim that I have to wear night-vision goggles. I live in agonizing pain 24/7 because of disk problems in my neck. The surgery failed to help in the least. People don't understand why I'm so miserable. As I once heard, Life is what happens to you when you're making big plans. I've never loved homeless people so much. I'm not too far from being homeless myself. God has placed a burden upon my heart for the poor and homeless. There's nothing in this world that I need or want, just give me Jesus.
When I was in West Los Angeles, California, for my neck surgery, I gave a little change away to a man who asked for some money, and then I didn't have enough change to ride the bus. I was 25 cents short. I was mad at myself because I had to walk quite a distance to get more change. But you know, I'd rather be this way than a greedy person who never gives anything to anyone and dies a miserable person. My reward is in Heaven. I plan to keep giving... after I get on the bus.
Most of the time I give them $10 to $20 inside a Gospel Booklet of John (These are T.C. Horton editions of the Gospel of John, which contain much helpful information. T.C. Horton was a faithful Bible teacher at Moody Bible Institute in the early years before they went liberal. I have a few of the originals from 1922. These Gospels of John are a homeless person's best friend. They mean everything to a person who has nothing.)
It is best not to give money to the homeless if they are in an area known for crime, and you think they may be at risk, it just makes them more vulnerable to be robbed.
Unfortunately, some of them will spend the money on alcohol. If I see an alcohol bottle or smell liquor, then I don't give them any money. I don't want to add to their problems. Alcohol is dangerous. Tragically, many homeless people freeze to death during the winter months. The alcohol makes them feel warm, even though they are freezing to death, and they die. Each situation is different and unique. I knew personally of two different men in Chicago who died this way. I hate booze!
Consider what items you would likely need if you were homeless. It's a good idea to assemble some basic necessity gift packages, containing perhaps some of the following items:
New Testament Bible (the Gospel of John would be ideal)
doctrinally sound Gospel literature (which use only the King James Bible)
gloves, socks, earmuffs, scarf and blanket (during winter)
Vienna hotdogs in a can (with easy open lid)
pre-cooked, easy-open foods
Soft snack foods (many of the homeless have dental problems)
Snackables (cheese and crackers)
bottled water
today's newspaper
fresh fruit, nuts, a few pieces of wrapped candy
comb, nail-clippers
A couple small packs of Advil
tissues, handy-wipes
chapstick or lip-balm
hand-lotion for dry-skin
toothpaste and toothbrush
McDonalds gift certificates
Addresses and phone numbers of nearest helpful shelters (enclose $1 in change for phone calls)
Addresses and phone numbers of nearest godly churches
a handwritten note of kindness (it may simply be a brief note; e.g., “given in Jesus' name”)
It's helpful to place all these items in some type of cloth carrying pack that they can continue using.
a small pillow (“...the Son of man hath not where to lay his head,” Matthew 8:20) . . .
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.” —Proverb 14:31
“And of some have compassion, making a difference.” —Jude 22
“He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.”
—Proverb 14:21
A homeless ministry is something that anyone can do. But by the grace of God, we would all be homeless. This life is so short and we'll be in eternity before we know it. I don't know about you, but I want to spend the remainder of my life helping others in Jesus' name, so that I may please the Lord.
Matthew 25:40, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Homeless in Bremerton WA
From devout Christians serving on the front lines to social-service folks targeting funds from behind their desks, West Sound has an army fighting homelessness. But for all their effort, it's not enough. While free meals for the poor and homeless are provided in Bremerton, they are sorely lacking in many other parts of West Sound.
Even more troubling is the critical shortage of shelter beds and low-income housing in all its forms. The need is so urgent that a few are starting to call for a tent city here.
Homeless-persons' advocate Skip Ivie of Advantages Counseling of Poulsbo is one of them. He's angry about the Kitsap County sweeps of homeless tenters from the Illahee Forest. He questions the legality of the sweeps and suggests that instead, a portion of the Illahee Forest be set aside as a tent city.
The location is perfect, he said. "They don't want to look at us. We don't want to look at them either," he said.
A tent city includes central kitchen and toilet facilities and is self-policing. "All levels of crime would drop if they had stability," he said.
Delsie Peebles has added her voice as well. She envisions a tent city in a vacant lot across the street from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Bremerton, where she runs The Lord's Neighborhood Diner.
Helene Nelson, well-acquainted with the level of desperation among tenters when they are swept from the forest, also is calling for a tent city.
But these voices are scattered and disconnected.
And neighbors of any tent city no doubt would agree with Sister Pat Millen of Catholic Community Services when she cites the possible dangers of placing unscreened homeless people in an unsupervised setting.
HOUSING
The Kitsap Continuum of Care Coalition, made up of social-service agencies, shelters and food banks, believes more transitional housing is the best bet for fighting homelessness. It has made transitional housing its foremost priority for 2004.
The chances of hoisting people from homelessness are highest when those with problems such as drug abuse are given a combination of a place to live and services to overcome their problems, they say.
The coalition advised adding 256 transitional units to West Sound's existing stock of 50 to 75, a very tall order.
On the way to the governor for consideration is a proposal to create an ongoing fund to services to homeless families. The proposal, with $2 million attached for start-up costs, is part of the supplemental budget.
And new government money for housing is raining down locally.
SHB 2060, passed by the Legislature in 2002, created a new pot of funds for operation and maintenance of low-income housing. Funds are collected from a new $10 recording fee for documents filed in county auditors' offices.
In June, the first funds from SHB 2060 -- $825,200 -- will be doled out to about six Kitsap recipients, with more to come in future years.
SOMETHING, ANYTHING FOR TEENS
All agree that homeless teens in West Sound get almost nothing. They tend to congregate in Silverdale because of Kitsap Mall, a sort of teen center where none other exists.
So far off the charts, teens have become invisible, unable to qualify for programs or get jobs. Their culture differs from older homeless people so much that they shun services in Bremerton in favor of trying to make it on their own.
A shelter could help.
"That's one of the things we're going to need in the future -- a teen shelter," said Rudy Muriel, youth program counselor at WorkSource Kitsap County.
JOB TRAINING
Beyond food and adequate housing, the fight against homelessness won't be won without job training and jobs.
"We need to provide employment opportunities that provide a livable wage -- with benefits," Millen said.
Muriel points to many WorkSource job-training programs for the homeless, and, indeed, homeless people regularly are seen there looking for work.
The Pathways to Success program at WorkSource for 16- to 21-year-olds has been getting high approval marks. It provides a chance to finish high school and get some work experience with about 150 Kitsap employers. Sometimes that evolves into a job.
Kitsap Community Resources is one of the other agencies working to match jobs with homeless people.
A LITTLE RESPECT, PLEASE
Perhaps what's needed most in West Sound's fight against homelessness is to acknowledge that its victims are here in our midst.
The homeless are us.
"They're not evil people. They're sons and daughters, moms and dads. That's who they are," said Hoyt Burrows, executive director of Bremerton Foodline.
•••
OUR HIDDEN HOMELESS
A five-part series that looks at Kitsap County's struggle to care for more than 800 people
SUNDAY: Tenters pitch their lives on the outermost edge of homelessness.
MONDAY: For teens, survival is a squat, something to believe in and a little spare change.
TUESDAY: In giant dining halls and under leaky tarps, the hungry are fed.
WEDNESDAY: An appalling lack of housing seals the fate of homelessness.
TODAY: With the right services, people can escape homelessness.
Even more troubling is the critical shortage of shelter beds and low-income housing in all its forms. The need is so urgent that a few are starting to call for a tent city here.
Homeless-persons' advocate Skip Ivie of Advantages Counseling of Poulsbo is one of them. He's angry about the Kitsap County sweeps of homeless tenters from the Illahee Forest. He questions the legality of the sweeps and suggests that instead, a portion of the Illahee Forest be set aside as a tent city.
The location is perfect, he said. "They don't want to look at us. We don't want to look at them either," he said.
A tent city includes central kitchen and toilet facilities and is self-policing. "All levels of crime would drop if they had stability," he said.
Delsie Peebles has added her voice as well. She envisions a tent city in a vacant lot across the street from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Bremerton, where she runs The Lord's Neighborhood Diner.
Helene Nelson, well-acquainted with the level of desperation among tenters when they are swept from the forest, also is calling for a tent city.
But these voices are scattered and disconnected.
And neighbors of any tent city no doubt would agree with Sister Pat Millen of Catholic Community Services when she cites the possible dangers of placing unscreened homeless people in an unsupervised setting.
HOUSING
The Kitsap Continuum of Care Coalition, made up of social-service agencies, shelters and food banks, believes more transitional housing is the best bet for fighting homelessness. It has made transitional housing its foremost priority for 2004.
The chances of hoisting people from homelessness are highest when those with problems such as drug abuse are given a combination of a place to live and services to overcome their problems, they say.
The coalition advised adding 256 transitional units to West Sound's existing stock of 50 to 75, a very tall order.
On the way to the governor for consideration is a proposal to create an ongoing fund to services to homeless families. The proposal, with $2 million attached for start-up costs, is part of the supplemental budget.
And new government money for housing is raining down locally.
SHB 2060, passed by the Legislature in 2002, created a new pot of funds for operation and maintenance of low-income housing. Funds are collected from a new $10 recording fee for documents filed in county auditors' offices.
In June, the first funds from SHB 2060 -- $825,200 -- will be doled out to about six Kitsap recipients, with more to come in future years.
SOMETHING, ANYTHING FOR TEENS
All agree that homeless teens in West Sound get almost nothing. They tend to congregate in Silverdale because of Kitsap Mall, a sort of teen center where none other exists.
So far off the charts, teens have become invisible, unable to qualify for programs or get jobs. Their culture differs from older homeless people so much that they shun services in Bremerton in favor of trying to make it on their own.
A shelter could help.
"That's one of the things we're going to need in the future -- a teen shelter," said Rudy Muriel, youth program counselor at WorkSource Kitsap County.
JOB TRAINING
Beyond food and adequate housing, the fight against homelessness won't be won without job training and jobs.
"We need to provide employment opportunities that provide a livable wage -- with benefits," Millen said.
Muriel points to many WorkSource job-training programs for the homeless, and, indeed, homeless people regularly are seen there looking for work.
The Pathways to Success program at WorkSource for 16- to 21-year-olds has been getting high approval marks. It provides a chance to finish high school and get some work experience with about 150 Kitsap employers. Sometimes that evolves into a job.
Kitsap Community Resources is one of the other agencies working to match jobs with homeless people.
A LITTLE RESPECT, PLEASE
Perhaps what's needed most in West Sound's fight against homelessness is to acknowledge that its victims are here in our midst.
The homeless are us.
"They're not evil people. They're sons and daughters, moms and dads. That's who they are," said Hoyt Burrows, executive director of Bremerton Foodline.
•••
OUR HIDDEN HOMELESS
A five-part series that looks at Kitsap County's struggle to care for more than 800 people
SUNDAY: Tenters pitch their lives on the outermost edge of homelessness.
MONDAY: For teens, survival is a squat, something to believe in and a little spare change.
TUESDAY: In giant dining halls and under leaky tarps, the hungry are fed.
WEDNESDAY: An appalling lack of housing seals the fate of homelessness.
TODAY: With the right services, people can escape homelessness.
Home is a Parking Lot
HOME IS A PARKING LOT
Andrew, no last name offered, was sitting by the window recently after finishing his meal at The Lord's Neighborhood Diner at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Bremerton. Sun streaming in makes the deep creases in his face appear even deeper. A cap is pulled down tightly over his head.
"I have a home -- the parking lot down the street," he said. Two other men lived with him, he said, and it had been at that location for two days.
Like many homeless men, Andrew worked as a laborer, cutting trees in Eastern Washington. He's in Bremerton to complete some paperwork he hopes will lead to a monthly $515 Supplemental Security Income check, paid to individuals who are poor and disabled.
"I'm going to rent me a house. I'm going to buy me a TV. I'm going to live like a human being," he promised.
THE TRAVELER
Robert Barker prefers the word "traveler" to "homeless."
That he has done over the years, traveling 80,000 miles on his Harley-Davidson throughout his native East Coast, often with a white German shepherd behind him on the seat. "He was always saying, 'faster, faster,' " Barker remembered.
Homeless on and off for much of his adult life, Barker, 48, now lives in an '85 Chevy van in Bremerton with his newest dogs, a matched pair of highly trained white German shepherds.
Small and personable but wary, Barker hides a dollar bill and a pop can outside his van, then calls Princess and Bika out, ordering them to find the items. They do. He raises a fist; they sit. The dogs jump back into the van on command.
So as not to attract the police, Barker moves his van weekly, finding a sunny spot in parking lots or on side streets to stay a few degrees warmer. He eats regularly at church-sponsored meals, and gets money when he needs it through Labor Ready, a temporary employment agency that pays the same day. When he's flush, he gets gas for the van or visits a laundromat.
Barker shuns government assistance, saying he'd rather avoid paperwork that goes nowhere.
"Never had a dime from the government," he said. "I can go two weeks with 75 cents."
He had a chance to inherit the family business, a New Jersey greenhouse and produce venture. But he and his father clashed and Barker hit the road.
Like other homeless people, he visits local libraries to stay warm and to use the Internet. Up until recently, Barker had his own Web site.
When he's in his van and he gets too cold, he climbs into the sleeping bag in the back and goes to sleep.
Barker vows to maintain his lifestyle "until the right woman comes along." When asked where he'd like to be at age 65, he responded "wealthy," "retired" and "on a motorcycle with dogs."
WEST COAST WANDERER
Dawn Schmidt, a pleasant, heavy-set single mother with brown hair, describes herself and her family as West Coast nomads, staying at places just for a while, then moving on.
She and her three children, ages 6, 11 and 13, her disabled mother and a friend arrived in Bremerton six months ago. Like many new arrivals, they first tried the Alive and St. Vincent de Paul shelters for women and children, but found them full.
Her car, stuffed with all their possessions, was impounded shortly after they arrived, and Schmidt, 30, lacked the money to retrieve it. They soon found themselves living in a tent at Illahee State Park, with some local churches helping pay the $15 nightly fee.
"Delsie has helped up a lot," she said of Delsie Peebles, who runs The Lord's Neighborhood Diner, a large weekend feeding, and who helps many of the homeless.
Finally, she found housing at Parkwood Terrace in Bremerton, and the six of them are managing to get by on $642 monthly in welfare and the $565 her mother receives in disability.
"It did get really tough," Schmidt said of being homeless with kids. "Maybe it'll instill something in them."
Andrew, no last name offered, was sitting by the window recently after finishing his meal at The Lord's Neighborhood Diner at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Bremerton. Sun streaming in makes the deep creases in his face appear even deeper. A cap is pulled down tightly over his head.
"I have a home -- the parking lot down the street," he said. Two other men lived with him, he said, and it had been at that location for two days.
Like many homeless men, Andrew worked as a laborer, cutting trees in Eastern Washington. He's in Bremerton to complete some paperwork he hopes will lead to a monthly $515 Supplemental Security Income check, paid to individuals who are poor and disabled.
"I'm going to rent me a house. I'm going to buy me a TV. I'm going to live like a human being," he promised.
THE TRAVELER
Robert Barker prefers the word "traveler" to "homeless."
That he has done over the years, traveling 80,000 miles on his Harley-Davidson throughout his native East Coast, often with a white German shepherd behind him on the seat. "He was always saying, 'faster, faster,' " Barker remembered.
Homeless on and off for much of his adult life, Barker, 48, now lives in an '85 Chevy van in Bremerton with his newest dogs, a matched pair of highly trained white German shepherds.
Small and personable but wary, Barker hides a dollar bill and a pop can outside his van, then calls Princess and Bika out, ordering them to find the items. They do. He raises a fist; they sit. The dogs jump back into the van on command.
So as not to attract the police, Barker moves his van weekly, finding a sunny spot in parking lots or on side streets to stay a few degrees warmer. He eats regularly at church-sponsored meals, and gets money when he needs it through Labor Ready, a temporary employment agency that pays the same day. When he's flush, he gets gas for the van or visits a laundromat.
Barker shuns government assistance, saying he'd rather avoid paperwork that goes nowhere.
"Never had a dime from the government," he said. "I can go two weeks with 75 cents."
He had a chance to inherit the family business, a New Jersey greenhouse and produce venture. But he and his father clashed and Barker hit the road.
Like other homeless people, he visits local libraries to stay warm and to use the Internet. Up until recently, Barker had his own Web site.
When he's in his van and he gets too cold, he climbs into the sleeping bag in the back and goes to sleep.
Barker vows to maintain his lifestyle "until the right woman comes along." When asked where he'd like to be at age 65, he responded "wealthy," "retired" and "on a motorcycle with dogs."
WEST COAST WANDERER
Dawn Schmidt, a pleasant, heavy-set single mother with brown hair, describes herself and her family as West Coast nomads, staying at places just for a while, then moving on.
She and her three children, ages 6, 11 and 13, her disabled mother and a friend arrived in Bremerton six months ago. Like many new arrivals, they first tried the Alive and St. Vincent de Paul shelters for women and children, but found them full.
Her car, stuffed with all their possessions, was impounded shortly after they arrived, and Schmidt, 30, lacked the money to retrieve it. They soon found themselves living in a tent at Illahee State Park, with some local churches helping pay the $15 nightly fee.
"Delsie has helped up a lot," she said of Delsie Peebles, who runs The Lord's Neighborhood Diner, a large weekend feeding, and who helps many of the homeless.
Finally, she found housing at Parkwood Terrace in Bremerton, and the six of them are managing to get by on $642 monthly in welfare and the $565 her mother receives in disability.
"It did get really tough," Schmidt said of being homeless with kids. "Maybe it'll instill something in them."
Canopies of refuge
Canopies of refuge
Rachel Pritchett
Sun Staff
A woman's terrifying shriek pierces the still woods along Highway 303 near Bremerton one recent frigid morning. The voice seethes with rage. It comes closer and closer. Suddenly, a woman with flashing eyes and wild black hair appears. She's stabbing a sharp, 4-foot-long tree limb at the air in front of her. She finds her target. It's Adam, a young homeless man living in the woods.
"Who took our tent?" she screams. In a white-hot fury, the woman, perhaps in her 40s, swings her weapon full force at Adam. Adam dodges, then reaches out, trying to calm her. She swings again.
Her husband, Bob, wearing an eye patch and appearing worn and disjointed, catches up to the struggling pair. He, too, tries to calm her. Carol, also known as Heather, relinquishes her tree limb. She and Adam embrace.
Her breath is pungent with alcohol.
Carol and Bob have been gone for some time in Seattle.
Adam, 24, tall and slender, assures her in a gentle tenor voice that he didn't steal her tent. He's hidden it, and the three leave to find it.
Kitsap County does a pretty good job of feeding its population of 800 homeless people, but social service providers have not been able to solve the problem of finding adequate shelter to meet the need.
Many say the county has never seen the current level of demand for sheltering the homeless. They say the dearth of housing for the homeless is at a crisis level. As a result, informal tent cities have sprouted up in several spots in Kitsap.
An October 2003 study by the Kitsap Continuum of Care Coalition comprised of food banks, shelters and social-service agencies counted 19 individuals and 16 households living in tents or on the street. The coalition agreed, however, that the actual number is probably at least twice that.
THERE TO HELP
Among the tall trees, Carol, Bob and Adam meet a pleasant-looking woman with gray hair and pink sweater. She is Helene Nelson, a deeply religious person who looks after the most pressing needs of the tenters, feeding them and providing essentials.
Today, she is there to help Carol and Bob collect their things from their old tent site. Nelson and her husband then will drive Carol and Bob to a tent city in Tukwila.
The group finds the site. Carol, now calmer, picks up some of the things she left behind when she went to Seattle. She retrieves a take-out container stuffed with toiletries, a large Bible and a tiny stuffed bunny.
Adam has remembered where he stuffed their tent and retrieves it. Nelson hurries Carol and Bob along. Soon they are gone.
MORNING COFFEE
Earlier that morning, Adam was at Mar's tent. John, who has lived in the woods for five to six years, was there, too. They'd gathered for coffee Mar had made on his tiny campstove.
"Right now, I use Sweet 'N Low," said John in a thick East Coast accent.
Dressed in a tight-fitting cap, worn red jacket and boots, he remembers a cabin he lived in when the forest was owned by the Department of Natural Resources. Back then, he said, the all-terrain vehicles tore up the place on Friday and Saturday nights.
"They were getting pretty wild," said John, 43.
Kitsap County acquired the 359-acre tract in 2001.
A thick canopy of firs shields Mar's tent and tarp from the rain. An American flag hangs over the entrance.
Mar, 40, is talkative and fast-moving. The 1981 Bremerton High graduate is proud of his setup. Seven candles provide light and warmth, and tight containers keep food away from creatures.
"Every food item, even the coffee, came from Mrs. Peebles," he said, referring to homeless advocate Delsie Peebles, who also runs The Lord's Neighborhood Diner in Bremerton, a feeding program. Mar is a frequent helper there.
A tiny battery-powered television is inside. Adam and Mar sometimes get together to watch their favorite show, "The West Wing."
This morning, Mar reviews the local newspaper. He's disgusted that Bremerton would spend money on a tunnel but not on homeless shelters. He's even more disgusted at the Episcopalians' acceptance of gays.
He's put off by tenters who drink beer, the affordable beverage of choice among the seven or so who live here in the woods.
Adam nonchalantly lights a joint.
Mar occasionally gets work by dressing in painter's garb with an assortment of brushes, and standing in front of Kelly-Moore Paints on Highway 303. He tells painters he'll work for $10 an hour.
"I don't ever not get work that way," he said.
The mood outside Mar's tent is intimate.
The tenters remember meals they have shared. A recent spaghetti dinner at Mar's; beef and potatoes at Adam's.
Their main source of food is meals served at local churches and the Salvation Army. The men know the daily schedule by heart.
Their lifestyle appears to preclude a steady woman. "My girl is my dog," Mar said.
The tenters depart for the day. Sometimes they just wander, fulfilling their next task.
John has been known to collect cans and turn them in for money at the nearby Wal-Mart recycling center, and to beg for food and money at the local 24-hour Jack in the Box restaurant.
Sometimes the tenters stand in sheltered areas at the entrance of Fred Meyer or Safeway. Often, they just stay in the woods, some drinking beer.
THE HILTON
Adam probably isn't what the Boy Scouts had in mind back in Montesano, where he grew up.
"I never made Eagle; I didn't want it," he said.
But the scout of five years learned his survival lessons well. The structure he built deep in the woods is known as the Hilton.
Framed in poles expertly lashed together with twine, the cabin stands 10 feet in height at the peak -- tall enough to handle Adam's 6-foot-1-inch frame. Seven tarps cover the walls and roof. At night, the Hilton casts a warm glow through the clearing.
Inside, a colorful knitted afghan hangs over a bunk. Adam sleeps below, his belongings freshly laundered and expertly folded in zip-close bags above.
A pair of ladies' sandals with 4-inch heels is tied to the bedpost. There is a mirror over his bed. Adam, a cross-dresser, enjoys hosting parties with his friends.
Outside, he has built a solar shower but chooses instead to clean up at The Lord's Neighborhood Diner.
"I really do like it out here," Adam said.
Frustrated at paying high rents, he doesn't want to work more than necessary. That amounts to 10 days a month in construction or clean-up work through Labor Ready, the temporary-staffing company that pays workers daily.
A Labor Ready spokesperson was reluctant to discuss hiring the homeless, and would only say the company employs dependable workers from many walks of life.
Adam's passion is skateboarding. In 25 minutes he can cruise from Petersville Road, through the Harrison Hospital parking lot and down to the foot of Manette, he said.
THE SWEEP
A week later, the Hilton, Mar's tent, John's tent and all the others are gone.
Beer bottles and garbage have disappeared. Trash bags of personal belongings are waiting at the side of the forest.
John is sitting on a log drinking beer.
"Every six months they make a sweep-through," he explained.
"They were very nice," he said. "They left my personal property."
Adam and the others have vanished.
"They're still here, but they didn't want anybody to know about it," John said.
John said he'll move to the woods behind Safeway tonight.
This sweep of the forest, to the east of Highway 303 above NE Fuson Road, was conducted by the county in a long struggle over who will use the woods.
Dori Leckner, special projects coordinator with Kitsap County Facilities, Parks and Recreation, is the organizer, called into action in part by members of the Illahee Forest Stewardship Committee.
The committee was formed in 2001 when the county took over the forest from DNR. Members are working to turn the woods into a park with trails and picnic tables -- even a playground and amphitheater, Leckner said.
They keep an eye on things in the woods, alerting Leckner when they believe tents and trash are getting out of hand, Leckner said.
The current sweep is similar to three last year, Leckner said. Each time, she puts together a crew of inmates from the Women's Correctional Center at Purdy, AmeriCorps workers or juveniles working off community service hours.
They give 48 hours' notice to the tenters to leave, she said. If they haven't, the workers dismantle the camps. Her crew never has taken down a tent that has not been served with a notice, Lectner said.
Mar later said he saw no notice; Adam said they gave him less than 24 hours.
So far, 19 abandoned vehicles and 85,000 pounds of trash have been removed from Illahee Forest. Some $8,000 was spent on cleanup in 2003, Leckner said.
Steward Judy Krigsman contacted The Sun, seeking information about whether the tenters' personal items had been taken in this sweep. She said she is concerned about them. Leckner says Krigsman in the past has given the tenters information about available services.
Mar said his things were taken to a trash bin. He looked but couldn't find them. Adam said he received less than 24 hour's notice.
Said Krigsman, "My goal would be to see a men's shelter."
But there isn't one.
Where do you go when you're living on the edge and someone's trying to push you off?
•••
OUR HIDDEN HOMELESS
A five-part series that looks at Kitsap County's struggle to care for more than 800 people
TODAY: Tenters pitch their lives on the outermost edge of homelessness.
MONDAY: For teens, survival is a squat, something to believe in and a little spare change.
TUESDAY: In giant dining halls and under leaky tarps, the hungry are fed.
WEDNESDAY: An appalling lack of housing seals the fate of homelessness.
THURSDAY: With the right services, people can escape homelessness.
Rachel Pritchett
Sun Staff
A woman's terrifying shriek pierces the still woods along Highway 303 near Bremerton one recent frigid morning. The voice seethes with rage. It comes closer and closer. Suddenly, a woman with flashing eyes and wild black hair appears. She's stabbing a sharp, 4-foot-long tree limb at the air in front of her. She finds her target. It's Adam, a young homeless man living in the woods.
"Who took our tent?" she screams. In a white-hot fury, the woman, perhaps in her 40s, swings her weapon full force at Adam. Adam dodges, then reaches out, trying to calm her. She swings again.
Her husband, Bob, wearing an eye patch and appearing worn and disjointed, catches up to the struggling pair. He, too, tries to calm her. Carol, also known as Heather, relinquishes her tree limb. She and Adam embrace.
Her breath is pungent with alcohol.
Carol and Bob have been gone for some time in Seattle.
Adam, 24, tall and slender, assures her in a gentle tenor voice that he didn't steal her tent. He's hidden it, and the three leave to find it.
Kitsap County does a pretty good job of feeding its population of 800 homeless people, but social service providers have not been able to solve the problem of finding adequate shelter to meet the need.
Many say the county has never seen the current level of demand for sheltering the homeless. They say the dearth of housing for the homeless is at a crisis level. As a result, informal tent cities have sprouted up in several spots in Kitsap.
An October 2003 study by the Kitsap Continuum of Care Coalition comprised of food banks, shelters and social-service agencies counted 19 individuals and 16 households living in tents or on the street. The coalition agreed, however, that the actual number is probably at least twice that.
THERE TO HELP
Among the tall trees, Carol, Bob and Adam meet a pleasant-looking woman with gray hair and pink sweater. She is Helene Nelson, a deeply religious person who looks after the most pressing needs of the tenters, feeding them and providing essentials.
Today, she is there to help Carol and Bob collect their things from their old tent site. Nelson and her husband then will drive Carol and Bob to a tent city in Tukwila.
The group finds the site. Carol, now calmer, picks up some of the things she left behind when she went to Seattle. She retrieves a take-out container stuffed with toiletries, a large Bible and a tiny stuffed bunny.
Adam has remembered where he stuffed their tent and retrieves it. Nelson hurries Carol and Bob along. Soon they are gone.
MORNING COFFEE
Earlier that morning, Adam was at Mar's tent. John, who has lived in the woods for five to six years, was there, too. They'd gathered for coffee Mar had made on his tiny campstove.
"Right now, I use Sweet 'N Low," said John in a thick East Coast accent.
Dressed in a tight-fitting cap, worn red jacket and boots, he remembers a cabin he lived in when the forest was owned by the Department of Natural Resources. Back then, he said, the all-terrain vehicles tore up the place on Friday and Saturday nights.
"They were getting pretty wild," said John, 43.
Kitsap County acquired the 359-acre tract in 2001.
A thick canopy of firs shields Mar's tent and tarp from the rain. An American flag hangs over the entrance.
Mar, 40, is talkative and fast-moving. The 1981 Bremerton High graduate is proud of his setup. Seven candles provide light and warmth, and tight containers keep food away from creatures.
"Every food item, even the coffee, came from Mrs. Peebles," he said, referring to homeless advocate Delsie Peebles, who also runs The Lord's Neighborhood Diner in Bremerton, a feeding program. Mar is a frequent helper there.
A tiny battery-powered television is inside. Adam and Mar sometimes get together to watch their favorite show, "The West Wing."
This morning, Mar reviews the local newspaper. He's disgusted that Bremerton would spend money on a tunnel but not on homeless shelters. He's even more disgusted at the Episcopalians' acceptance of gays.
He's put off by tenters who drink beer, the affordable beverage of choice among the seven or so who live here in the woods.
Adam nonchalantly lights a joint.
Mar occasionally gets work by dressing in painter's garb with an assortment of brushes, and standing in front of Kelly-Moore Paints on Highway 303. He tells painters he'll work for $10 an hour.
"I don't ever not get work that way," he said.
The mood outside Mar's tent is intimate.
The tenters remember meals they have shared. A recent spaghetti dinner at Mar's; beef and potatoes at Adam's.
Their main source of food is meals served at local churches and the Salvation Army. The men know the daily schedule by heart.
Their lifestyle appears to preclude a steady woman. "My girl is my dog," Mar said.
The tenters depart for the day. Sometimes they just wander, fulfilling their next task.
John has been known to collect cans and turn them in for money at the nearby Wal-Mart recycling center, and to beg for food and money at the local 24-hour Jack in the Box restaurant.
Sometimes the tenters stand in sheltered areas at the entrance of Fred Meyer or Safeway. Often, they just stay in the woods, some drinking beer.
THE HILTON
Adam probably isn't what the Boy Scouts had in mind back in Montesano, where he grew up.
"I never made Eagle; I didn't want it," he said.
But the scout of five years learned his survival lessons well. The structure he built deep in the woods is known as the Hilton.
Framed in poles expertly lashed together with twine, the cabin stands 10 feet in height at the peak -- tall enough to handle Adam's 6-foot-1-inch frame. Seven tarps cover the walls and roof. At night, the Hilton casts a warm glow through the clearing.
Inside, a colorful knitted afghan hangs over a bunk. Adam sleeps below, his belongings freshly laundered and expertly folded in zip-close bags above.
A pair of ladies' sandals with 4-inch heels is tied to the bedpost. There is a mirror over his bed. Adam, a cross-dresser, enjoys hosting parties with his friends.
Outside, he has built a solar shower but chooses instead to clean up at The Lord's Neighborhood Diner.
"I really do like it out here," Adam said.
Frustrated at paying high rents, he doesn't want to work more than necessary. That amounts to 10 days a month in construction or clean-up work through Labor Ready, the temporary-staffing company that pays workers daily.
A Labor Ready spokesperson was reluctant to discuss hiring the homeless, and would only say the company employs dependable workers from many walks of life.
Adam's passion is skateboarding. In 25 minutes he can cruise from Petersville Road, through the Harrison Hospital parking lot and down to the foot of Manette, he said.
THE SWEEP
A week later, the Hilton, Mar's tent, John's tent and all the others are gone.
Beer bottles and garbage have disappeared. Trash bags of personal belongings are waiting at the side of the forest.
John is sitting on a log drinking beer.
"Every six months they make a sweep-through," he explained.
"They were very nice," he said. "They left my personal property."
Adam and the others have vanished.
"They're still here, but they didn't want anybody to know about it," John said.
John said he'll move to the woods behind Safeway tonight.
This sweep of the forest, to the east of Highway 303 above NE Fuson Road, was conducted by the county in a long struggle over who will use the woods.
Dori Leckner, special projects coordinator with Kitsap County Facilities, Parks and Recreation, is the organizer, called into action in part by members of the Illahee Forest Stewardship Committee.
The committee was formed in 2001 when the county took over the forest from DNR. Members are working to turn the woods into a park with trails and picnic tables -- even a playground and amphitheater, Leckner said.
They keep an eye on things in the woods, alerting Leckner when they believe tents and trash are getting out of hand, Leckner said.
The current sweep is similar to three last year, Leckner said. Each time, she puts together a crew of inmates from the Women's Correctional Center at Purdy, AmeriCorps workers or juveniles working off community service hours.
They give 48 hours' notice to the tenters to leave, she said. If they haven't, the workers dismantle the camps. Her crew never has taken down a tent that has not been served with a notice, Lectner said.
Mar later said he saw no notice; Adam said they gave him less than 24 hours.
So far, 19 abandoned vehicles and 85,000 pounds of trash have been removed from Illahee Forest. Some $8,000 was spent on cleanup in 2003, Leckner said.
Steward Judy Krigsman contacted The Sun, seeking information about whether the tenters' personal items had been taken in this sweep. She said she is concerned about them. Leckner says Krigsman in the past has given the tenters information about available services.
Mar said his things were taken to a trash bin. He looked but couldn't find them. Adam said he received less than 24 hour's notice.
Said Krigsman, "My goal would be to see a men's shelter."
But there isn't one.
Where do you go when you're living on the edge and someone's trying to push you off?
•••
OUR HIDDEN HOMELESS
A five-part series that looks at Kitsap County's struggle to care for more than 800 people
TODAY: Tenters pitch their lives on the outermost edge of homelessness.
MONDAY: For teens, survival is a squat, something to believe in and a little spare change.
TUESDAY: In giant dining halls and under leaky tarps, the hungry are fed.
WEDNESDAY: An appalling lack of housing seals the fate of homelessness.
THURSDAY: With the right services, people can escape homelessness.
How to help the homeless in the cold
How to help the homeless in the cold
Homeless people line up outside a shelter in Atlanta, Georgia, as unusually cold weather came in this week.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- If someone is in need, call social services hot line or 911, experts say
- Agencies have the necessary training and resources, they say
- Gift of blanket or coat could keep someone from seeking long-term help
- Respect people's right to refuse help, advocate says
(CNN) -- The weather has turned dangerously cold in much of the country, putting homeless people at high risk of injury or even death. If you encounter someone and want to help, what should you do?
The specific answer depends on the circumstances, but those who work with the homeless every day agree you generally should leave social services to the professionals.
"Most communities have some kind of crisis hot line, or the local United Way will have a 211 line," said Brian O'Malley, executive director of the Homeless Services Coalition of Greater Kansas City, in Missouri. In some cities, including New York, the hot line number is 311.
Your hot line call will prompt a local homeless services agency to dispatch outreach workers to help the person in need, said O'Malley and his counterparts in New York and Charlotte, North Carolina.
"We've been doing this work for a very long time, and what we tell people is it is better to donate funds and resources to organizations that are in the business of helping homeless people and have professionals on their staff who know how to do this," said Stephan Russo, executive director of Goddard Riverside Community Center, the lead homeless services agency in Manhattan.
RELATED TOPICS
If your area doesn't have a hot line or if the situation you observe is dangerous, then call police, the experts say.
"If you see someone who's clearly incapacitated, the best thing is just to call the police. The police know how to handle it," O'Malley said.
Still, there's room in the experts' doctrine to allow for direct acts of kindness.
"If you see someone who needs a coat and you have a coat, offer it to them. I don't have a problem with that," O'Malley said. "If the person is reluctant, lay the coat on the ground and leave."
"We don't really promote giving people cash money," said Deronda Metz, director of social services for the Salvation Army of Charlotte, North Carolina. "If you have a blanket, that would be great. If you have food to give, that would be double good. We don't promote giving people a ride."
Metz recommended that people who want to give direct help to homeless people do so in pairs for the safety of all involved.
Whatever you do, don't give someone alcohol, O'Malley said.
The advocates all agreed that the best route is to allow trained experts to provide services, but you can help people access those services.
Ask specific questions, O'Malley said: Do you need something? Can I get you a ride somewhere? Do you need food? Is there someone I can call for you?
Once you know what the person needs, you can make the call to the hot line or 911 and give helpful information, he said.
Many times, people won't want your help, said Christy Parque, executive director of Homeless Services United, a coalition of homeless service agencies in New York City.
"Sometimes people forget that [homeless] people have the right to ask for help or not ask for help, and it's tragic sometimes, but we need to respect their rights," she said.
Furthermore, your well-intentioned effort could be counterproductive, Metz said.
"The reality of it is that person may have a health condition and really need to get out of the cold," Metz said. "Your providing the blanket may not be a good solution. ... We've had incidents in Charlotte where people have frozen to death behind buildings, and they were covered in blankets."
Russo concurred.
"There are times when groups will come into the city, [trying to help folks,] whether through food or a blanket -- well-intentioned -- but we don't want it to be more comfortable for people to be there. The goal is to get people off the streets and into housing."
The best approach is to support -- through donations of coats, blankets, food, cash and time -- agencies that have the infrastructure and expertise to help the homeless effectively, the advocates said.
"Just giving somebody a dollar isn't going to help them from freezing to death or dealing with a lifetime of mental illness issues," Parque said.
"If you're feeling like you really want to do something, then help out the helpers."
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